Reflecting the international spirit and the values of global cooperation and communication, 18 Deree students from various academic disciplines were given the opportunity to participate in this year’s educational trip to Brussels, Belgium. For the fourth consecutive year, the Office of Public Affairs, in collaboration with the Institute of Global Affairs (IGA), organized a three-day visit to the European capital, from November 16th to 19th, with the aim of highlighting the importance of international institutions. The trip provided students with the opportunity to become familiar with key organizations and engage directly with decision-makers.
Under the guidance of Ms. Claudia Carydis, Vice President of Public Affairs; Dr. Constantinos Filis, Director of IGA and Professor of International Relations; Dr. Spyros Katsoulas, Head of the Observatory at the Institute of Global Affairs and Professor of International Relations; Dr. Konstantinos Vavousis, Department Chair of IT, Cybersecurity and Computer Science and Associate Professor; and Ms. Vasiliki Christoforidou, Specialist, Public Affairs, the students visited the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Greek Delegation to the EU, and NATO.
Upon arriving in Brussels, the students met with three Deree alumni who are highly engaged in European affairs through their work or studies in Brussels. Nickie Karousis (Deree ‘22), Schuman Trainee at the European Parliament; Victoria Charalampidi (Deree ‘23), Master’s student; and Dionysis Fotopoulos (Deree ‘22), Advisor to the Cypriot Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, all shared their unique experiences, providing students with valuable insights and advice from their professional and academic journeys.
On the first full day of the trip, the Deree delegation visited the European Commission and met with Roy Tzivra (Deree ‘17), Communication and Horizontal Coordination Unit at DG ECHO, who delivered an insightful presentation on the European institutions and their inner workings. Following her talk, the students had the honor of meeting and conversing with the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who addressed students’ questions and shared the plans he aims to implement as Commissioner.
The day continued at the European Parliament with an engaging introduction to the institution and its various functions by Policy Analyst and Deree alumnus (’02), Angelos Delivorias. During the visit, the group was also welcomed by Juan Schinas Alvargonzalez, Policy Advisor at the European Parliament, who provided a tour of the premises and engaged in a detailed discussion with the students, addressing questions related both to the structure of the Parliament and to career opportunities. One of the most interesting meetings of the day followed, with MEP Yannis Maniatis, Vice President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats and long-standing member of the European Parliament. He explained his work, policy interests, and objectives, as well as procedural aspects of the Parliament. The day concluded with a meeting with MEP Antonio López-Istúriz White, who shared his insights on Spain’s position vis-à-vis the EU, Greek–Spanish relations, and issues related to defense capabilities and spending among EU member states.
The second day of meetings began at NATO Headquarters, where the students received a tour of the Office for Strategic Communication from Tatum Brunton before entering the offices of the Greek Diplomatic Committee. During their time at NATO, the students delved deeper into issues of foreign affairs and geopolitics with Paula Redondo of the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division and Dagmar De Mora Figueroa of the Cyber and Digital Transformation Division. They provided a briefing on Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics and discussed issues related to Russia–NATO relations. Following this session, the Ambassador of the Permanent Representation of Greece to NATO, Ms. Vasiliki Gounari, welcomed the group, delivered remarks on Greece’s role within the Alliance, and responded to students’ questions.
After the NATO visits, the Deree delegation continued to the European Defence Agency, where Policy Officer Maria Peteinoudi outlined the EU defense agenda and the responsibilities it entails for its member states. The educational trip to Brussels concluded with a visit to the Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU, where the students met with Ambassador Ioannis Vrailas for a discussion on Greece’s position within the EU and the significance of Greece’s upcoming Council Presidency.
This year’s trip to Brussels was an invaluable experience for us students, as it highlighted the importance of international institutions such as the EU and NATO for global cooperation and stability, while also informing us of potential professional opportunities. We are grateful to the Office of Public Affairs, IGA, our alumni, and all the professionals we met for their support and for welcoming us to Brussels.
Written by Anastasia Mouratoglou, 4th Year Student, International Relations and European Affairs, ACG