GSI European Summer School

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GSI European Summer School

Die Europäische Sommerakademie des GSI wurde 1990 gegründet. Seither kommen jeden Sommer rund 80 j

Die Europäische Tagungs- und Bildungsstätte Bonn des GSI ist eine unabhängige, überparteiliche und gemeinnützige Einrichtung der politischen Bildung. In dieser Eigenschaft, anerkannt vom Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, veranstaltet das GSI Konferenzen, Symposien, Tagungen, Workshops und Seminare zu einem breit angelegten Themenspektrum.

21/09/2024

Our last destination in Luxembourg was the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) - the judicial authority of the EU. Here the members states elevate their cases to the supranational level: the court functions to interpret and clarify the EU law.

We entered the huge golden building and walked down an almost Kilometer long corridor. Nicola Berner, a legal assistant to one of the advocates general, gave us a great & informative presentation about the CJEU.
Aside from talking about the functioning of the court (details that we won’t bore you with here), she told us that 2,300 people work for the institution. And over half of those employees are the courts translators & interpreters!
After the presentation, we got a tour of the building and got to see the Grand Chamber.
Before entering the room, our tour guides told us that the architectural concept of the building is based on an idea of reversing the concept of the “little citizen.” That’s to say, instead of entering the building and immediately going up many stairs, being separated from daylight, and walking down narrow corridors, the build of the CJEU is such that you enter into a large, open lobby flooded with daylight and large windows everywhere and walk down a set of stairs before coming to the doors of the main room.

The Gran Chamber itself is very gold and regal, but our favorite fact about the room is that - when you enter - you’re at eye level with the judges.

The concepts of fairness, truth, and transparency really pervade the building.
We really enjoyed our visit and the opportunity to see such an important and impressive building in which so much important deliberation and decision-making takes place.

21/09/2024

A Memorable Visit to Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇱🇺🇱🇺

On September 18, 2024, we had the pleasure of visiting Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we were warmly welcomed by Xavier Bettel, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was inviting and informal, setting the stage for an engaging experience.

Minister Bettel shared a thoughtful address, highlighting the importance of strong international communication and collaboration. He outlined Luxembourg's foreign policy, which prioritizes dialogue and mediation as vital tools for fostering peace. His commitment to peacebuilding and diplomacy was evident throughout his remarks. Additionally, he emphasized the need for the European Union to strengthen its support for refugees and safeguard minority rights.

What made the visit even more enriching was the opportunity for direct engagement. We had the opportunity to ask Minister Bettel questions, and he graciously responded with insight and openness, fostering a meaningful conversation.

His charm and approachability left a lasting impression on all of us, reinforcing his dedication to global diplomacy and inclusivity.

21/09/2024

“We don’t trust the paper, we go on the spot”

On Tuesday, our European Summer School visited the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in Luxembourg🇱🇺, where Radek Majer, an auditor from the Czech Republic, introduced us to the ECA’s important role in managing EU finances. The ECA started in 1975 as a small agency. Now this is a key part of the EU that ensures that its money is well spent and that programs and policies achieve their goals.

The ECA has six main tasks. First, it checks whether EU policies and programs meet their objectives. It also provides opinions to help shape decisions made by the EU. Third, the ECA assists the European Parliament and the Council by preparing audit reports, which are used when they approve the EU’s budget. Another important task is ensuring that the EU’s financial management is sound. The ECA also reviews all income and spending within the EU. Lastly, it issues a Statement of Assurance, which confirms whether the EU’s finances are correctly reported.

One of the most important responsibilities of the ECA is auditing the EU’s multi-annual financial framework, a long-term plan that distributes large amounts of money across different sectors. The Court’s work ensures that this money is spent wisely.

The ECA is organized into five audit chambers and has 27 members, each nominated by an EU country. However, these members must remain independent and cannot take orders from their governments. The ECA also has several committees, such as the Presidency, the Secretariat General, and the Audit Quality Control Committee, among others, that help ensure high standards of work.

20/09/2024

Last Official Stop: the Council of the European Union (‘the Council’)! 🏛️
[Conseil de l’Union européenne,
Rat der Europäischen Union]
Overview
* Role: Voice of EU member governments, adopting EU laws and coordinating EU policies
* Members: Government ministers from each EU country, according to the policy area to be discussed
* President: Each EU country holds the presidency on a 6-month rotating basis
* Established in: 1958 (as Council of the European Economic Community)
* Location: Brussels (Belgium)
* Website: Council of the EU https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/

As part of our European summer school adventure with the Gustav Stresemann Institute, we had the amazing chance to visit the Council of the European Union in Brussels! 🇪🇺 This wasn’t just a sightseeing stop—it was an eye-opening experience into the heart of Europe’s efforts to uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the continent.
Our tour began in the grand hall between the council and European Council, where decisions that impact over 700 million Europeans are made. It's surreal to think that we were sitting in the same chamber where leaders and diplomats debate the future of European values. 💬🗳️

One of the most memorable moments was learning that the required unanimity on opening the accession talks with Ukraine was only reached as a result of a strategic maneuver by Viktor Orbán. At the decisive moment, Orbán, at the suggestion of Olaf Scholz, left the meeting room purportedly for a coffee break. This enabled him to abstain from voting.

Of course, we made sure to capture the moment with some group photos in front of the iconic flags, representing all member states. 📸 I think we all left feeling a bit more connected to the broader European project and our place within it.
This visit was a reminder of the real impact European institutions have on our lives and a powerful end to our summer school journey in Brussels! ✨

18/09/2024

🌍 First International Visit: Schengen! 🌍

As part of our European summer school journey, we made an unforgettable stop in Schengen! This small yet historically significant town is where the Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985, shaping modern Europe by creating one of the world's largest free-travel zones. 🇱🇺🇫🇷🇩🇪

Our tour took us through the iconic monument featuring three columns representing Luxembourg, Germany, and France – the first countries to sign the agreement. Surrounding the columns were stars, each representing one of the current 27 Schengen countries. 🌟🌟🌟

We also had the chance to see a replica of the original Schengen Treaty and, of course, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to take photos. 📸

As a symbol of our visit, we hung a lock on the monument as a memory of our visit. It was a great way to wrap up the day and reflect on the importance of Schengen in shaping European history and its political future.

16/09/2024

EU economic and social integration at crossroads?

“The real power of the EU is based on the rule of law”

On Saturday we had a chance to listen to the lecture by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Born on EU economic and social integration and what happens to it after the European Parliament elections.

We took a closer look at the economic model of the European Union and the way it functions. Competitiveness, free flow of goods and abiding by the rules and laws helps to keep it intact. However, “the real power of the EU is based on the rule of law”. Both member states and companies that operate within them must comply by the current laws and procedures. A striking example is the case of Apple that lost before the EU Court of Justice and was fined for 13 billion euros for tax evasion.

This is why the elections to the Parliament were crucial, as this institution also maintains the order and rule of law. Regardless of the political affiliation and views, the parties worked within the existing model and promoted the law. As the result of this year’s elections, new parties stepped in and new majorities were formed. With the raising power of radical and right parties, as well as a more conservative orientation of various Member States, the pillars of the economic model are unstable. The free flow of goods is contested, along with the supranational authority of the EU institutions over economy and trade matters. Quoting the professor, “if some country denies the law, the whole model will implode”.

The lecture was followed by an active discussion, but in the end of the day the main takeaway is the following - the rule of law is the main guard of the current system and those who contest it, undermine the very existence of the Union.

14/09/2024

The 32. European Summer School started on the 13th of September. This year we are going to deal with the topic "Europe - on the path to cooperation or confrontation?!"

The participants listened to fascinating keynotes from Alexandra Geese, Member of the European Parliament and from Prof. Dr. Stefan Fröhlich, part of the Friedrich-Alexander-University, about insights of the work in the parliament and about a political science analysis!

Adresse

Langer Grabenweg 68
Bonn
53175

Telefon

0228 - 81070

Webseite

https://www.gsi-bonn.de/summerschool.html

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