Baza natječaja

 

Brave New Europe ; Ljubljana / Slovenia

Scholarship / Financial aid: Reduction of participation fees will be offered to 10 students
Date: 2 - 15 July 2006
Deadline: 1 May 2006
Open to: students of social sciences

Announcement follows:
A rather unsecured times marked the landscape of European Union in the years 2004 and 2005. The failure to secure public support for the Constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands has been joined with long and painstaking negotiations on the future financial framework. Where next?

Innovative approach in policies and reforms
It has become clear than the EU as much as nation-state leaders have not been able to address some of the recent major challenges of the EU effectively enough. European Union is obviously not catching up to its proclaimed and desired economic goals, even worse, is putting money into those, who have become a financial burden a long time ago. After the referenda failures the leaders have spent the first half a year being quiet, however, with the re-opening of the debate under the Austrian Presidency, they have quickly started bitter bickering over different visions of future EU. It is clear that EU policies need to be re-thought and that a message of clear and democratic institutional reform needs to prevail the public landscape. Money needs to be put where the mouth is.

Dialogue with citizens
Transparency and accountability of politicians that accept decisions and act on European level without serious commitment to their citizens have been debated for some time now. Closed decision-making in the European Council or unquestioned appointment of Commissioners as well as many other aspects of the current EU functioning do not address the needs and wishes of citizens anymore. A citizen needs to be included and needs to have a clear picture of what European Union is. Plan D, initiated in the answer of the referenda failure, intends to stimulate wide discussions on the future of Europe past strictly institutional questions. However, is the citizen interested? And what is he interested in? Is EU strong enough to address these needs effectively enough?

Challenges of local and global neighbourhood
The integrational path of Western Balkans has started, where and how will it end? Eastern Europe has seen some fundamental political earthquakes. The big neighbours have been watching closely and global challenges like the fast development of China, military strength of USA, energetic fields of Russia have remained mainly unaddressed by strong political counterpart on European behalf.

Who is eligible?
The applicants should satisfy the following criteria:

- Be aged between 20 and 25
- Be a student of political science, law, economics or similar
- Be able to communicate and work in English
- Be European
- Be innovative, active and interested in European affairs
- Be open-minded, communicative and explorative

Participation fee
Participation fee is 260 Euros. It covers tuition and study material, accommodation in a youth hostel, full board and social activities from Sunday 2 July until Saturday 15 July.

Reduction of participation fees
Reductions will be offered to 10 students, who will receive an award of 100 EUR. The amount will be deducted from the participation fee, paid at registration. Applicants are encouraged to apply if they feel the reduction will ease their possibility of participation. A motivation letter is required to be attached to the application form, explaining the reasons why you should be the receiver of the award. The selection will be done on case-by-base basis.

Travel reimbursement
You will receive 70% of travel reimbursement (cheapest means of travel), up to a maximum of 200 Euros. Reimbursement will be offered only to those who attend 80% of the programme. Travel reimbursement will be provided only upon receiving the original receipt or ticket at the end of the event.

Credit points
Participants of the summer university will receive 2 credit points valid for the European Credit Tranfer System (ECTS). They will be awarded by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, and you will be able to use them at your home Universities.
How to apply?

Download and fill in the application form. Send it to bne@jef.si  by 1 May!

Website: http://www.bne-isu.org/index.php?id=10 

 

Materials

Prijavni obrazac / Application form (59 kb)