IAPSS Study Trip to Brussels, Belgium
“Actors, Institutions and Policy-Making in the European Union”
April 27th - 29th 2015 (Arrival: 26th / Departure: 30th)

*Deadline for Registration: 17th March 2015*

Herewith we launch the registration for IAPSS’ annual political science study trip to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and home to the key institutions of the European Union! Never saw the Council of the EU from inside? Ever wanted to know how the International Cooperation and Development department of the EC operates? Never exchanged thoughts and ideas with diplomats, policy-makers and lobbyists in a deliberative and exclusive environment?

Take your chance and discover the political centre of Europe. Learn about the actors and institutions of the European Union and get a first-hand experience on the EU’s policy-making mechanisms. A second focus lies on the European Union agenda for international development and what the European Year for Development 2015 entails. Debate, exchange and network with two dozens of fellow political science students from Europe and beyond for three intensive days, with numerous academic and social delights featured.

KEY DATES
Arrival: Sunday, April 26th 2015
Program: Monday, April 27th - Wednesday, April 29th 2015
Departure: Thursday, April 30th 2015

PARTICIPATION FEE
Per person: 169,00 EUR

This includes accommodation (4 nights at the Maison Notre-Dame du Chant-d’Oiseau, Avenue des Franciscains, 3A, B-1150 Brussels - www.chant-oiseau.be), breakfast and dinner on programme days, public transport, all featured program components and access to all institutions on schedule.

Please note that IAPSS will not cover the travel costs to/from Brussels as well as to/from the accommodation, nor are Schengen visa fees covered. We are happy to provide you with a personalized visa invitation letter on the basis of a completed registration (requires payment) which you can use for your visa application at the Belgian Embassy (or its representative) in your country of residence. Contact us in case you wish to be provided with a visa invitation letter at events@iapss.org.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
* A visit to the European Commission (EC), with a comprehensive briefing on the role, institutional structure and policy-making processes within the EC;
* A visit to the Council of the European Union, with discussions on the supranational role of the Council and it’s relevance within decision- and policy-making processes in the EU;
* A lecture on lobbying in the EU, with a debate on the actors, strategies, risks and opportunities of interest groups involvement in policy framing processes;
* A visit to EUROPEAID, with an in-depth exchange on development cooperation and the EU’s objectives and instruments in supporting developing countries;
* Other meetings with academic, political and institutional stakeholders as well as a pub crawl enjoying Belgian beer delights and an extended walk along Brussels’ major sights

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Excited? Then do not hesitate and join IAPSS on its first study trip in 2015! Applications run on a first-come-first-served basis (deadline: March 17th). Please note that there is a limited amount of tickets available. You can simply purchase your ticket in the MyIAPSS Web Store (http://www.iapss.org/myiapss/) or via the Study Trips page: www.iapss.org/events/study-trips/2015-brussels. A range of payment methods is provided, including credit card (Mastercard, Visa and American Express), PayPal and payment by debit card for selected countries.

As places will quickly fill up, we recommend you to purchase your ticket as soon as possible, and until 17th March 2015!

Please note that IAPSS membership is required in order to participate in IAPSS Study Trips. Membership comes at only 15 EUR (for citizens of Europe incl. Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia) or 10 EUR (for all other countries) a year and offers you a wide range of benefits, including priority access to IAPSS conferences, IAPSS delegations and IAPSS study trips as well as the opportunity to contribute to IAPSS’ political science journals POLITIKON, Encuentro Latino Americano and the online international affairs blog A Different View. Also, members receive the two-monthly IAPSS News & Opportunities condensing political science opportunities such as internships, jobs, conference calls and more. There are discounted rates available for 2-year memberships.

If you are a member of IAPSS already, simply log into MyIAPSS with your personal log-in data and proceed to the webstore to purchase your ticket.
In case of any further question or inquiry, do not hesitate to contact us at events@iapss.org.