Europaeum Autumn School: Brussels Policy Seminar
September 29 @ 8:00 am - October 1 @ 5:00 pm BST
The Europaeum is pleased to invite applications for our longstanding Policy Making Seminar in Brussels. The European Union faces a moment of acute geopolitical uncertainty as the Von der Leyen Commission enters the defining phase of its second term. Conflict is ongoing on its eastern border and in the Middle East. Transatlantic relations are shifting and illiberal politics are on the rise within and beyond its borders. The Commission must press ahead in the fields of defence, competitiveness, enlargement, and the green and digital transitions against this backdrop. Will it test the limits of European governance to a point of strain?
The 2026 Policy Seminar will examine how the Von der Leyen Commission is navigating the present moment of turbulence — where its political will is being forged, how it is trading-off priorities, and how it is adapting to a year of external shocks. The seminar programme includes visits to several EU Institutions (including the EU Parliament) and involves talks and discussions with top decision makers and analysts engaged with shaping Europe’s path toward greater strategic independence and resilience.
The Europaeum would like to invite to Brussels up to 20 students currently enrolled on master’s or PhD courses at a Europaeum member university. Successful candidates will be provided with accommodation free of charge and will be reimbursed reasonable travel expenses within Europe.