Following the contest results, 3 winners will be selected to take part in a week-long study tour to get acquainted with the EU institutions (the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European External Actions Service) and the media pool in Brussels. The winners will also attend the midday press briefings of the European Commission and will get the opportunity to get the insider view on the EU institutions mechanism. The winners will also have the opportunity to attend the Kazmedia Media School course (the Khabar Agency Workshop project) during 2018.

The contest will be held by the following stages:

• Applications are submitted by 30 April 2018 COB. The applicant should send the requested application form with all related media materials and links attached. 
• Selection of the candidates by the competent jury and the organizing committee, the award of scholarships in accordance with the requirements for the study tour by 18 May 2018.
• Study tour will be held during 25-30 June 2018, but some alterations in exact dates are possible. The duration of the tour is 1 week, taking into account the travel time.

The jury members are:

• Zoltan Szalai, Head of Political, Press and Information section, EU Delegation to Kazakhstan
• Alan Azhibayev, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication of Kazakhstan
• Yerlik Karazhan, Deputy Director on strategic planning and international cooperation, Kazmedia Center
• Makhabbat Yessen, Director of the Kazmedia School, TV journalist, TV host
• Elnara Bainazarova, Press Officer, EU Delegation to Kazakhstan

Background information

2 February marks the 25^th anniversary of EU-Kazakhstan diplomatic relations, during the quarter century cooperation the solid legislative framework was established. The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the EU and Kazakhstan was signed on 21 December 2015 in Astana. Since 1 May 2016 the provisional implementation of the main articles of the Agreement has been launched. The Agreement provides significant boost to economic and political ties between the EU and Kazakhstan and also enhance concrete cooperation in 29 key policy areas, including in the sectors of economic and financial cooperation, energy, transport, environment and climate change, employment and social affairs, culture, education and research. During 1991-2014, to support Kazakhstan directly, the EU funded more than 350 projects for the total amount of EUR 180 million, which have been allocated to policy advice and technical assistance to various Ministries, Agencies and Committees of the Government of Kazakhstan

For further details please contact Kazmedia School Study Program Manager Ms Togzhan Toleuova +7 (7172) 757944 e_union18@mail.ru or Ms Elnara Bainazarova, Press and Information Officer of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan: + 7 (7172) 974567, e-mail: elnara.bainazarova@eeas.europa.eu