Visit to the European Institutions

Monday 19 to Thursday 22 March 2007

Every year the Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) organises a 3 to 4-day educational visit to the European institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg. Final year Law Tripos students (including second year Double Maîtrise students) and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge, are invited to participate. Although the visit is not an essential part of the course, it provides invaluable first-hand experience of the EU Institutions at work. There are 20-30 student places on the trip, and in past years these have been filled very quickly, so it is important to get your application in by the date specified. If the visit is oversubscribed, places will be decided by ballot.

The programme for the visit is as follows:

  • We depart for Brussels early on Monday morning, travelling by Eurostar; in the afternoon we visit SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, for NATO) before travelling to Luxembourg.
  • On Tuesday morning we visit the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, with a briefing followed by a hearing and then lunch with judges and référendaires at the ECJ. Afterwards we return to Brussels by coach.
  • On Wednesday morning we visit the Committee of the Regions and in the afternoon the Parliament, where the group will meet up with the Liberal Democrat MEP, Andrew Duff.
  • On Thursday we visit the European Commission and will spend some free time in Brussels before returning to Cambridge.

At each institution, presentations will be given by the members of these institutions, followed by a discussion session. You are kindly asked to ask LOTS of questions! Not only does it make for lively and interesting sessions, but the speakers are always very pleased.

Costs

The total cost for a place on the trip this year (2007) is £125. This includes:

  • 2 nights' hotel accommodation + breakfast in Brussels, sharing a twin-bedded en suite room
  • 1 night's hotel accommodation + breakfast in Luxembourg, sharing a twin-bedded en suite room
  • Coach transfer Brussels/Luxembourg/Brussels
  • Coach travel from Cambridge to Waterloo
  • Eurostar return journey

Not included:

  • Metro/bus journeys within Brussels and Luxembourg
  • Lunch and evening meals (one or two meals may be provided, as mentioned above)
  • Travel insurance and visas
  • ISIC (student) card (this may not be required - to be advised)

Booking your place

An information meeting will be held near the start of the Michaelmas Term for those interested in attending this visit.  Please keep your eyes open for emails and posters giving further details about the visit.


Further information

Study grants. Study grants may be available at your College and it is worth asking the Senior Tutor about this as soon as possible.


Visas. If you are from a non-EU country, you must check whether you require a visa and, if so, be responsible for obtaining this yourself. We can provide participants with a letter to embassies confirming that you will be joining the trip.

Travel insurance. Insurance is also the responsibility of students and you are advised to obtain cover.


Group discounts. In order to qualify for group discounts, the travel agents may ask for the ages of all students and an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) number. We shall contact you should you need to obtain a card.


Security. Not surprisingly, the European Institutions are very security conscious and require your details, including passport/identity card numbers, before our visit. Please supply all the information asked for on the application form.


If you have any further queries about the visit, contact CELS, tel: 01223 330093, or email cels@law.cam.ac.uk.