A window to the world
A window to the world
CONTENTS
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WELCOME!
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NICE TO MEET EU!
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A KEY PROGRAMME TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD
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SHARING EU VALUES AROUND THE WORLD
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BUILDING SYNERGIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE
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A WINDOW TO THE WORLD
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Martin Schulz President of the European Parliament This year we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of what is a unique EU visitors programme. I commend the existence of this study and information programme which over the years has supplied an invaluable network of contacts. The European Institutions have profited, year after year, from the outreach conferred by thousands of visitors who have participated in it. From their part, visitors have been brought not only closer but also to the very inside of the European Union’s mechanism, giving them an unparalleled insight into the objectives and challenges ahead. As in any other case, inside knowledge allows a much better appreciation of reality, thereby fostering trust and bringing down stereotypes. The visitors programme has also served as a window for the values Europe upholds. For some EUVP visitors freedom and democracy are still a rarity in the countries they come from. In other countries the institutions safeguarding freedom and democracy are in their nascent phase. The EU is based on these principles and proudly bears the flag of such values. EUVP visitors, irrespective of gender, origin, skin colour, faith, or life style, learn that the European Union aims to be a trustworthy interlocutor and a partner that will defend and support democratic institution building. I am convinced that the EUVP will continue to be as successful as ever in the years ahead because its model is built on the most basic and the most effective element - the individual. The contacts established with people from all around the world and from a multiple of backgrounds build solid bridges of understanding which are so fundamental for any ambitious project.
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Federica Mogherini High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission
The European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) makes an important contribution to deepening the ties between the European Union and third countries around the globe. By bringing together people from all around the world we counter ignorance and invest in lasting partnerships. This is an investment in future generations. It is also an investment in peace. The EUVP helps to strengthen our shared values. In coming together to learn and exchange ideas we realise that we have more in common than divides us. I have personally benefitted from international visitors programmes when I was a young student. Today I am very happy that the European Union can contribute to fostering ties between young people from so many different countries and backgrounds. By sharing our knowledge we can build a better world together. The European Union Visitors Programme constitutes a platform for dialogue. It allows people to build a better understanding of the European Union but also for the Union to get deeper insights into how third countries perceive us. This is of enormous value to the European External Action Service. In today’s complex and connected world we need to cooperate closely with partners on the joint challenges we face. This starts by building trust among younger generations. The future leaders and opinion-formers that come together through the European Union Visitors Programme every year make an important contribution to a common EU foreign policy that is rooted in mutual understanding. We are proud to celebrate our 40th anniversary this year and look forward to many more fruitful years of cooperation and exchange.
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Mairead McGuinness Vice-President of the European Parliament for Communication
The European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) dates back to the early 1970’s when there was little understanding of the role of the then European Community. Following an inter-parliamentary meeting with the U.S. Congress in Washington in May 1972, a former Vice- President of the European Parliament, Dr. Willem Schuijt proposed the creation of a scholarship programme aimed at educating young Americans about the European Community. And so for the past 40 years, the ‘European Union Visitors Programme’, as it is called today, has grown and expanded to meet the challenge of promoting the EU and its values beyond our borders.
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During a recent visit to the U.S., I witnessed that, more than 40 years after Dr. Schuijt’s visit to Washington, the functions and the roles of the EU can continue to cause confusion. I am convinced that the EUVP plays a vital role in spreading accurate information about the EU by offering participants direct access to the Institutions as well as one-to-one meetings with Members of Parliament and officials. The success of the Programme can be linked to its structure which is unique. At its inception, the Parliament invited the European Commission to join forces in financing and running the Programme. Since its creation, the EUVP has been the only truly inter-institutional unit made up of personnel from both the Parliament and the Commission. This mix of both Institutions guarantees that knowledge is shared and that the most appropriate interlocutors are identified for every participant on the Programme. Another aspect that, in my opinion, contributes to the success of the Programme is that, during the meetings organised by the EUVP,
participants and interlocutors can speak freely about topics of mutual concern and ask probing questions. Very often participants spend time explaining the policies or opinions of their home country. The overriding objective is to share knowledge of the EU, its Institutions, its values and its people and by so doing spread the message about inter-country cooperation, while celebrating difference and the individuality of Member States. It is hoped that the participation of our visitors will enable them to know us better, to understand our ways and to spread a fuller, more complete picture of the EU in their home country. Ultimately we want to build bridges between their home country and the EU and its Member States. Meeting, talking, networking, finding out and enquiring are all important aspects of the EUVP. We thank our former Vice-President for dreaming up the concept and making it happen, and we thank those who have come, participated and returned to their home better equipped to talk about the EU, its evolution, its achievements and its challenges.
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NICE TO MEET EU!
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40 YEARS OF SHARING EU VALUES The European Union Visitors’ Programme (EUVP) was an initiative of the Members of the European Parliament and is co-chaired by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ms Mairead McGuinness, and the High Representative of the Union for Federal Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms Federica Mogherini. The EUVP was established in 1974 by the European Parliament and the European Commission as an invitation programme to bring promising young professionals from the United States to Europe to give them the opportunity to learn more about the Institutions and workings of the European Community. On the inaugural visit, in 1974, five American visitors took part in the programme. To date, approximately 4000 visitors from third countries have taken part in the programme. This year, 167 visitors from 68 countries have been invited.
OBJECTIVES The EUVP aims to enable young current or emerging leaders in government, politics, the media and other key fields from third countries to visit and become acquainted in depth with the Institutions of the European Union as guests of the European Parliament and the European Commission. Moreover, the EUVP aims to create a lasting external network of contacts from wich many EU institutions can profit. A typical EUVP study tour comprises 5 to 8 day programme of meetings with Members of the European Parliament and officials from the EU Institutions. Each study programme is individually tailored to match the visitor’s professional profile and interests. It is composed of approximately 1520 bilateral meetings on topics of mutual interest to the visitor and the interlocutor resulting in a win-win situation.
The EUVP has greatly expanded geographically and now acts on a worldwide basis.
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EVOLUTION The underlying principles behind the creation of a European Community ‘leader grant programme’ were developed at the first European Parliament/ United States Congress Inter-parliamentary meeting held in Washington in May 1972, led by then Vice-President of the European Parliament and former Dutch Senator, Dr. Willem Schuijt. On his return to Europe, Dr. Schuijt reported that his group had encountered misunderstandings in Washington over the EC’s economic stance that could result in future conflict. Subsequently, Dr. Schuijt suggested the creation of a scholarship programme for young Americans who would learn in Europe about Community integration through direct contacts. Launching of the ECVP In January 1973, the Parliament adopted a resolution establishing the programme as a means to ‘strengthening the links between the European Community and the United States’. In this resolution, the Commission was invited to join forces in financing and running the proposed programme. In February 1974, the President of the European Parliament, Mr Berkhower, and Vice-President of the Commission, Mr Scarascia Mugnozza, agreed to create an inter-institutional invitation programme for young US leaders. The European Community’s Visitors Programme (ECVP) was officially launched on 1 April 1974. The ECVP, which was largely modelled on a similar US programme that had existed since World War II, invited American leaders to the then 9 countries of the Common Market on a 4 to 5 week study-tour. In those early years, the itinerary of every visitor involved meetings at the EU institutions in Brussels and attendance at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg as well as traveling to 3 other member states.
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EU DELEGATIONS’ CRUCIAL ROLE Following the expansion of the programme, it now targets young leaders and opinion formers from the countries where the EEAS has a delegation. Potential candidates who a priori meet the selection criteria are proposed by the EU Delegations. Members of the European Parliament and Member States’ Embassies can also make recommendations. The EU Delegations are required to follow-up EUVP visits and to stay in contact with former participants, who can become lifelong friends and supporters of the EU. Many former participants have progressed to positions of national and international eminence - among our former visitors we have Prime Ministers and even a European Commissioner. The creation of a network of former EUVP participants has also benefitted the EU Delegations. Once participants have returned home, EU Delegations maintain regular contact with them: e.g. mailing lists, invitation to seminars or receptions, participation in programmes for official visits by Members and officials of EU Institutions, etc.
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A KEY PROGRAMME TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD
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PROMINENT FORMER PARTICIPANTS
Corina Creţu European Commissioner for Regional Policy The first time I came to Brussels and first visited the European institutions, it was through the European Union Visitors Programme for young politicians. I was in my early twenties, and it really inspired me and helped me to determine that I wanted to make a career in European politics. Now I am proud to say I have served 8 years as an MEP before becoming Commissioner for Regional Policy. The Parliament and the Commission work hand in hand so this experience is definitely an asset. It goes without saying that the experience of being a Commissioner is a very different one from being an MEP. In the Parliament I represented the citizens of my country and the interests of my European political group. At the Commission our European hat stays on firmly and it should be of no particular political colour. I always have to have all 500 million European citizens in mind. Of course as Regional Policy Commissioner I am also often on the go, travelling around regions and seeing for myself how our funds and investments are working on the ground. But I must say I enjoy getting to the Parliament once a month with the College for the plenary sessions – its good to catch up with friends and keep connected. I congratulate you for the continuation of this programme and I hope that among the EU visitors of today are the MEPs and the Commissioners of tomorrow!
PROMINENT FORMER PARTICIPANTS
Mr Emil BOC Former Romanian Prime Minister
Mr Patrick MUYAYA KATEMBWE Member of the National Assembly of Kinshasa
Mr Richard HOLBROOKE Diplomat
Mr TIN PEI LING Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore
Romania
United States of America
Ms Adolphine BYAYUWA MULEY Provincial Minister for the Environment Democratic Republic of Congo
Mr Ronald CHANCE Member of the Senate United States of America
Mr Nicholas P. COLLINS Member of the House of Representatives United States of America
Mr Jean Willys De MATOS SANTOS Member of the Brazilian Congress Brazil
Ms Kamina JOHNSON SMITH Member of the Senate, House of Parliament Jamaica Ms Aisha GULALAI Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Pakistan
Democratic Republic of Congo
Singapore
Mr Mirza USTAMUJIC Member of the House of Representatives Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ms Kezang WANGMO Member the National Assembly of Bhutan Bhutan
Mr Bryan K. BARNETT Mayor, City of Rochester United States of America
Mr Ledi BIANKU Judge at the European Court of Human Rights Albania
Mr Tunku ZAIN Al ABIDIN Founding President, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Malaysia
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FACTS & FIGURE
VISITORS. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
ASIA 35 %
EUROPE 27 %
OCEANIA 3% AFRICA 8%
VISITORS. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS / POLITICIANS 49 %
AMERICA 27 %
OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS 31 %
JOURNALISTS 11 % ACADEMICS 9% 19
SHARING EU VALUES AROUND THE WORLD
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‘The EU value which I relate most to this trip is...’
PARTNERSHIP ‘ It has been demonstrated in the warmth of the people with whom I have met and it has been expressed in the clear and deliberate information that has been shared with me. I strongly believe that this trip will have a direct impact on my country in the areas of education and youth, as I am the opposition spokesperson on Education and Youth.’
EUVP Participant Ms Kamina JOHNSON SMITH Member of Senate House of Parliament Kingston Jamaica
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INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM ‘ I felt that as an individual I am free to express myself. I am free to ask questions, to approach people, to have conversations, to have really nice discussions. I really felt this individual freedom and had space to express myself and to be myself.’
EUVP Participant Ms Andrea ČORDAŠ Project Manager Chamber of Commerce Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina
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DIVERSITY ‘ I think that the European ideal of Unity in Diversity should be a world ideal. For someone that comes from a country like mine with 2.345.408 km², around 350 ethnicities, 350 dialects, 4 national languages as well as French and a bit of English, with an incredible amount of ethnic conflicts, I think that it is very interesting to see how 28 countries of the European Union manage to understand each other and unite in order to build things together.’
EUVP Participant Mr Patient LIGODI Director General Radio Univers FM Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo
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EQUALITY ‘ It blows me away that there are 28 Member States, that there are so many kinds of people. It’s not just that you are French or German. Inside of all those places you have all different kinds of people with different backgrounds. Everyone is considered as a European citizen. This sort of equal level for everyone is something that I would hope for us in the US. I really walk away with the impression that it is thoughtfully constructed and considered.’
EUVP Participant Ms Shauna DILLAVOU Executive Director CommunityRED Washington D.C. United States of America
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TRANSPARENCY ‘ On our first day, we had been walking around the Parliament and one of the programme organisers told me that the big glass windows were a symbol of transparency. I was impressed on that day and could observe this throughout the whole week. I saw how open and welcoming all the EU institutions are. Not only open for me as a visitor and journalist but open for the general public. I saw many young people, older people, tourists and locals who came to discover for themselves the everyday life of the different institutions of the EU. The doors are open and that is impressive.’
EUVP Participant Ms Dinara DULTAEVA Head of Business Section Economic Review Magazine Centre for Economic Research Tashkent Uzbekistan
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PEACE ‘ I met several Members of the European Parliament from different political groups who are working together in a democratic assembly. Although they may have different thoughts and opinions, there is an open communication and a well-designed system, which promote peace for everyone. That is what we need and wish for the world nowadays. In the last years we have had too many wars, particularly around my country, Turkey. We hope it will end soon and all people will have peace.’
EUVP Participant Mr. Musa ÇOPUR Project Coordinator Turkish Psychological Association Istanbul Turkey
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TOLERANCE ‘ In East Asia, nationalism often paralyses the possibility of international cooperation. When I visited the EU institutions in Brussels, what I found was that many people were fully aware of the importance of tolerance. Kindness to the others has been not the obstacle but the key to the prosperity of all the EU Member States. As a professor of international politics, I need to tell to Asian students that this is exactly what we should learn from the experience of European integration.’
EUVP Participant Mr. Yuichi HOSOYA Professor of International Politics University of Keio Tokyo Japan
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RESPECT ‘ Having met with different delegates and representatives, visiting the different sites and getting briefed by different colleagues, I can see the diversity in the EU with its 28 countries while they are working on common goals and policies. Under such a diversified and dynamic environment, respect is of crucial importance - the need to respect the different views, different working styles and different cultures.’
EUVP Participant Ms Yanyan YIP Chief Executive Officer Civic Exchange Hong Kong People’s Republic of China
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DEMOCRACY ‘ There is definitely a merit in the EU Integration process: even though there are contradictions that are unavoidable when it comes to bringing different countries together in common governance, there are legitimate concerns from the citizens. It is very important that the EU process has kept democracy as a key component. It has tried to have more democratic Institutions at the EU level; it has subsided into giving more power to the most democratic Institution, the European Parliament. It is important to generate wealth but it is also important how we do it. That has to do with bringing citizens to the process.’
EUVP Participant Dr Ricardo TORRES PÉREZ Head of the Cuban Economy Team Centre for the Study of the Cuban Economy University of Havana Havana Cuba
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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ‘ In Europe, people from different countries, with different cultures, traditions and languages can feel free and can openly express their opinion - even if this is not according to the majority. In Europe everyone can keep their identity, individuality and self-esteem. It is an important part of European democracy. Thank you for the opportunity of walking with my head held high!’
EUVP Participant Ms Anna MATIUKHINA Media/Relations advisor of Senate of Yekaterinburg Yekaterinburg Russian Federation
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DIGNITY ‘ We have greatly discussed common interests that touch the creation of more just societies, better societies, where people can feel more secure, where the human potential can be developed. From that point of view, dignity and solidarity are the values that have struck me the most during my visit in Brussels.’
EUVP Participant Mr Patrick NDZANA OLOMO Policy Officer Division of Investment and Resource Mobilisation African Union Addis Ababa Ethiopia
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RULE OF LAW ‘ The respect for the rule of law and the effective, equal and unbiased implementation of the EU legislation at national level is to a certain effect the guardian of European democracies. The four capital freedoms of the European Union, the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, can only be prolific if there is a thorough respect and understanding for the rule of law and here the European Union as a whole can be seen as an example of good practices on the international arena. The respect for the rule of law in the EU was the foundation on which the entire European project was built and I believe that there are lessons to be learned from such successful initiatives.’ EUVP Participant Ms Aïssata LAM Founder and President Junior Chamber of Commerce of Mauritania Nouakchott Mauritania
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BUILDING SYNERGIES FOR A BETTER FUTURE
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Since its creation in 1974, the EUVP has evolved to reflect the EU’s growing importance in the international arena, expanding its collaboration with the EU delegations in 75 Third Countries. Accordingly, the EUVP has gradually adapted its programme to the EU’s new role on the world stage, that of a stronger and global actor in a multipolar and polycentric world. This opening to a larger number of countries has become essential, due in part to globalisation and to the technological revolution, but above all in order to take into account the development of strategic partnerships between the EU and a still growing number of third countries. Today, the EUVP has an important role to play in this dynamic future and the achievement of common goals, which must be based on deep mutual knowledge and understanding, as well as the sharing of common values. The challenge for the EUVP is not only to continue to adapt to the ever changing political environment by facilitating direct contact and by serving as a permanent interface between visitors and their contacts within the European institutions, but also, principally indeed, to foster and promote common values, such as Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law and respect for Human Rights. Building synergies between countries and people, based on common values, is the best way for ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for all.
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A WINDOW TO THE WORLD In 2015, 167 participants from 68 countries and international organisations (African Union and League of Arab States) have been invited to take part in the European Union Visitors Programme.
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see you soon!
More information on the European Union is available on the Internet: http://europa.eu
© European Union, 2015 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Luxembourg
Photo credits Cover: Shutterstock Pages: 3: Martin Barraud/Caia Images/ GraphicObsession, Jeremy Woodhouse/Digital Vision/Getty Images, Pinopic/iStock.com, JimmyFam/iStock.com; 6, 8: European Union; 10: Arantxa Hurtado; 17: European Union; 21: Matthew Henry; 23: Zahariz Khuzaimah; 25: Patient Ligodi; 27: Arantxa Hurtado; 29: Mukhiddin Alee & Dinara Dultaeva; 31: Enno Ladwig; 33: Jason Halayko; 35: Enno Ladwig; 37: Andreas Schultz; 39: Enno Ladwig; 41: Enno Ladwig; 45: Yero Djigo. For the portraits, pages 22-44: Arantxa Hurtado
Since its joint creation in 1974 by the European Parliament and the European Commission, the EUVP continues to offer decision makers and opinion moulders from Third Countries the possibility to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the European Union. Conceived as a study visit to the European institutions, the EUVP provides full access to all EU departments through the form of individually‑tailored programmes. The EUVP contributes to sharing common EU values through strengthening long-term bilateral relations between the EU and Third Countries, hence building bridges between people.
EUVP
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