- Details
- Written by: Biuro Wielkopolski w Brukseli
11164
By joining the EU (and NATO) Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia fulfilled the key target of Visegrad cooperation, with Slovakia being the most problematic element in this process due to unsatisfying track record in terms of democratic criteria for several years.
After EU accession, the Visegrad states have since tried to redefine priorities and find an orientation point for future cooperation. Joining the EU was by a substantial part of the population seen as a way to align the living standards of the CEE region with that of „old“ member states. 10 years after, looking just on the overall numbers suggest that V4 countries are economically stronger. V4 annual GDP grew additionally ~1% due to EU membership, purchasing power reached 65 % of EU15 average, the income gap has narrowed by 1/3. According to further Erste Group study data, V4 exports grew three times faster than the exports of EU15 and V4 is now the fourth largest exporter in the EU28, and second largest car producer in the EU after Germany.
- Details
- Written by: Biuro Wielkopolski w Brukseli
wozniak2-150
The Committee of the Regions Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy (COTER) met jointly with the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development (REGI) to discuss problems and opportunities emerging from the implementation of the reform of EU regional policy adopted last year. Complexity of rules, persistent lack of urban focus and delays in launching 2014-2020 programmes were among the critical issues raised by local and regional leaders.
A joint REGI-COTER meeting held on 6 October saw a first exchange of views on the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for 2014-2020 whose new regulations were discussed over the last 3 years and eventually adopted at the end of 2013. The reform's delivery is raising mixed reactions among regional and local leaders who are in charge of their management. "We are now in the 'hot period' when the process of negotiation of partnership agreements and operational programmes is coming to an end" said COTER chair, Marek Wozniak (PL/EPP), Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region, who stressed that: "The time has come to ask questions such as how the new instruments will be implemented in Member States to ensure the optimal distribution of cohesion policy allocations as well as to help beneficiaries to use the available means more effectively." The overall judgment on the reform was positive. "Regional policy is generally well defined and the resources have been secured for its programmes”, pointed out the State Secretary and Delegate of Saxony-Anhalt for the German Federation, Michael Schneider (DE/EPP). Taking reference from the 2008 joint working group between the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament, he proposed to “re-establish the ad hoc group on cohesion policy in 2015 to elaborate practical proposals for more efficient programmes and to cut the impact of administrative burden".
- Details
- Written by: Biuro Wielkopolski w Brukseli
Parliament offers several options for traineeships within its Secretariat, to provide opportunities for vocational training and for learning more about what the European Parliament is and does.
Traineeships for university graduates are intended to enable trainees to supplement the knowledge which they acquired during their studies and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the European Union and, in particular, the European Parliament.
These traineeships cover:
-
Robert Schuman scholarships, general option
-
Robert Schuman scholarships, journalism option.
Applicants for a traineeship for university graduates must.
-
be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or an applicant country, without prejudice to the provisions of article 5 paragraph 2 of the Internal rules;
-
be aged 18 or over on their traineeship starting date;
-
have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union;
-
not have been awarded any other traineeship or have been in paid employment for more than four consecutive weeks at the expense of the European Union budget.
Applicants for Robert Schuman scholarships, journalism option, must demonstrate professional experience as evidenced either by works published, or by membership of an association of journalists in a Member State of the European Union, or by a qualification in journalism recognised in the Member States of the European Union or in the applicant countries.
These traineeships are awarded for a period of five months which cannot be extended.
| Traineeship dates and deadlines for receipt of applications | |
| Application period | Traineeship period |
| 15 August – 15 October (midnight) | 1 March - 31 July |
| 15 March – 15 May (midnight) | 1 October - 28/29 February |
To apply for the traineeship you must fulfil the conditions and complete the online application form.
We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, to prevent the system from becoming overloaded because there are a large number of applications.
When applying online, you have a maximum of 30 minutes to complete each page of the application form. Please note that if you leave your application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost. We therefore advise you to read carefully the ‘Internal rules governing traineeships and study visits in the Secretariat of the European Parliament’ and the Frequently Asked Questions before filling in the application form.
In order to apply to those Directorates-General that best suit your profile, you can read their description via the information button on the last page of the application form or visit the website of the Secretariat of the European Parliament.
The application cannot be changed online and is completed and submitted in a single operation. After filling in your application please make sure that it is correct and complete before submitting it.
You may send only one application for one traineeship option. In case of multiple applications for one option we will keep only the most recent one.
NB: Any incomplete applications will automatically be rejected.
Once you have confirmed/sent your online application you will automatically receive a confirmation message to your email address. The message contains a confirmation number that you should quote in all future correspondence concerning the traineeship and the summary of your application in pdf format, a paper version of which will be requested, if we offer you a traineeship.
More information - http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/007cecd1cc/Traineeships.html
- Details
- Written by: Biuro Wielkopolski w Brukseli
polish eu and nato flags. poland may 2007
Poland has proven it is possible to sustain economic growth without relaxing fiscal discipline, MEP Jacek Saryusz-Wolski told EurActiv.
2014 is a special year for Poland, as the country marks 10 years of EU accession, 15 years of NATO membership and 25 years since the fall of communism (see background).
In honor of the occasion, EurActiv asked Polish commentators to describe the country's economic and social renaissance .
- Details
- Written by: Biuro Wielkopolski w Brukseli
tusk 234 14 2
Following the election of Donald Tusk as the next President of the European Council & Euro Summits, President Michael Schneider congratulated the Polish Prime Minister his new post, on behalf of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions, expressing his wishes for strengthened cooperation between the CoR and the Council:"We are delighted by the appointment of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as the next President of the European Council. Together with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European People's Party will be able to lead the EU back to growth and ensure the best future for Europe's regions and cities".
