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Call for interest: European Union Visitors Programme 2020 – virtual visit

14.08.2020
Brussels

The European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) is programme facilitating individual visitors to visit the EU institutions. EUVP was established by the European Parliament and the European Commission in 1974.

What is the EUVP?

The EUVP is a programme designed to enable active or future decision-makers and opinion-moulders outside the European Union (EU) to get an insight into the political system and more concretely into the functioning of European institutions. It enables them to learn the perspective of European decision-makers on a wide range of issues. The programme is jointly sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The length of a typical EUVP study visit is 5 working days of meetings with EU officials at EU institutions in Brussels. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme has been postponed. Nevertheless, the EU has decided to offer an additional opportunity for an EUVP virtual visit.

The virtual visit would include:

  • advance availability of the welcome package of electronic documents related to EU policies corresponding to the interests of the participants as outlined in their Statements of Purpose to get prepared for virtual meetings;
  • a welcoming video session with the EUVP to offer an overview of the EU, its functioning and current policy priorities;
  • several individual video meetings with interlocutors from the EU Institutions with expertise in the policy and geographical interests of the participants;
  • a video farewell and evaluation session with the EUVP to receive feedback on the visit and comments on potential improvements.

The EUVP will invite the Alumni to remain active friends of Europe, offering them various possibilities to share their experience and views on the EUVP Facebook page, as well as networking opportunities with other EUVP Alumni.

For more details on the programme, please visit the http://europa.eu/euvp or contact the EUVP coordinator (details below).

Who is eligible to participate?

Chinese citizens with a career-related interest in the EU are invited to apply. Ideal candidates, aged 30-40, are professionals in a field where their EUVP experience will enhance their understanding of the EU and contribute positively to their chosen career path. Basic knowledge of EU institutions and their functioning is a plus. Fluency in at least one EU language is normally required of EUVP participants.

Eligible participants fall under one of the following categories: 

  • Politicians: mayors, party officials and advisers to politicians
  • Government officials: central and all other levels of government
  • Academics/Think-tanks: those responsible for teaching and conducting research on EU issues
  • Civil society actors: environmentalists, development workers, trade unionists etc.

Media: journalists, editors etc.

Please note that private lawyers, industrialists or bankers are considered eligible as EUVP participants only if they exercise responsibility and influence as a member of a national commission or Chamber of Commerce. The EUVP is not designed as a programme for students: participants are required to have completed their university education or equivalent training and to have been employed for several years in their chosen career field.

EUVP candidates are selected from a large number of non-EU countries throughout the world. Non-Chinese applicants should contact the EU Delegation in the country in which they have citizenship.

What is the application process?

The EU Delegation to China is responsible for applications from Chinese citizens living and working in China. Please complete the following forms and send them by registered mail or e-mail (with the subject line: Application for EUVP 2020 – virtual visit) to the Delegation, no later than the deadline of 4 September 2020.

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of Purpose

To ensure that the individually tailored programme reflects your motivation for the visit and your professional interest, your Statement of Purpose should include a description of your current responsibilities, EU theme(s) you wish to examine topics you intend to discuss, and ideas for potential meetings.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.

Applications should be addressed to:

 

European Delegation to the People's Republic of China

EUVP Coordinator
Political Press and Information Section
Delegation of the European Union in China
15 Dongzhimenwai Street, Sanlitun, Beijing, 100600 China
Email: delegation-china-political@eeas.europa.eu