Bigger, Better, Balkan!

The stagiaires of DG Enlargement once more have the pleasure to invite you to another epic night out. We'll paint the town golden! Come join the madness in the very heart of Brussels and dance the night away to the finest selection of electro and Balkan swing. It's gonna be a blast, nuff said!

New package on economic governance: a risk for the European social model?

Following the financial and economic crisis, broad consensus emerged on the need for reform and better governance of the global economy. Tightening financial supervision in the private sector and tackling dangerous imbalances in EU economies (growth of debt and deficits) seemed to be a priority for all. In April 2011, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament adopted six new legislative proposals on economic governance, also known as the 'six-pack'.

On Thursday 23rd June, the European Parliament adopted its position on this economic governance package during a plenary session. This text will now serve as the backbone of the talks between MEPs and Member States which will continue until a final agreement can be reached. With this vote the views of the Parliament and the 27 Member States on economic governance are becoming closer but some obstacles remain, especially when it comes to sanctions on countries which don't comply with the rules.

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire II

Hard work at night

Being a stagiaire means so much and there are so many things to do: meeting new people, drinks every other day, freshening up on your school French, and subcommittee activities on top of trying to do a good job...

Kraków day by day

After the advert in the Stage Committee newsletter, I was the first to buy a ticket for the Poland trip and the first to arrive at the bus that would take us to Charleroi, afraid of being stuck in the metro (as actually happened to some others). How could I have ignored this opportunity to go to the country of the upcoming presidency? Kraków here we come!

Stage & the City: The secret diary of a blue book stagiaire I

Arriving in Brussels

So here I am. Standing in front of this big glass building called the Berlaymont that I had previously only seen in pictures. One year ago I would never have imagined that I would be here in Brussels today for a five month internship at the European Commission... 

What do the Irish miss most in Brussels?

Brussels has long been a popular destination for Irish expats, with plenty of jobs on offer for native English speakers, a more international setting than Dublin could offer and (many of you may be shocked) an ever so slightly better climate than our fair isle.

Ask any Irish expat in Brussels what they miss most about home and you'll hear a range of answers from ‘proper’ tea (none of this Lipton's nonsense) to Tayto crisps.

But when it comes down to it, the things we really miss are far more basic...

Sunday is for soccer!

The ECS football tournament will soon reach its half way point. In total, some 150 stagiaires are playing in this legendary tournament which will rank DGs according to their football skills. The fun is not only reserved for the players, but also for supporters who come to cheer their DG teams to success on Sunday evenings! 

What do Italians miss most in Brussels?

I'm from Sicily, an island in the south of Italy which is pretty different from the rest of the country because of its past and its culture. Excuse this preamble, but I must tell you this because I'm sure that people from Padova don't miss the same things...

What I miss most from this sunny and sour land is the wild and windy sea that lets me feel so far from everywhere and yet so close to another continent; crazy and warm people who start talking with me, just for the pleasure of talking, looking into my eyes and expressing their thoughts with just a gesture of the hands, all feeling part of the same human mess; the slow way of life; a less stressful rhythm, taking the time to go for a slow walk on the beach and not seeming invisible to others.

Sandra Incorvaia,
DG JRC