European Union Vistors Programme

From June 17 to June 21, 2013 the head of the EU Information Centre, Barents EU Centre coordinator Anastasia Kuznetsova took part in European Union Vistors Programme in Brussels, Belgium.

The aim of this programme is to provide opportunities to young leaders from non-EU countries to visit institutes of the European Union.

During this week A. Kuznetsova had the meeting with the representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the Directorate for Education and Culture, the Directorate for Development and Cooperation, the Directorate for Research and Development, the European Central Bank, the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, DAAD, the EU-Russia Centre.

Thanks to these meetings she was able to acquire valuable information on such European programmes as Jean Monnet, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Marie Curie Actions. As PetrSU is very interested in the participation in these programmes, it was very useful to get the information on the current state of the programmes and about their future. Now they are being transformed and united into the programmes Erasmus Plus or Erasmus for all and Horizon 2020. The most essential issues devoted to participation of Russian organizations and Russian citizens and financing were revealed during these meeting.

Within the frameworks of the meetings there were discussions connected with relations Russia-EU, attitudes towards Russia in the European countries and towards Europe in Russia. It appeared that the views of the European institutions have largely negative character. The sharp problems which are put in the forefront, – human rights in Russia, the status of non-commercial organizations, the attitude to the opposition. It was emphasized that these trends have appeared during last two years. Nevertheless, Russia is the main strategic partner for the EU. The European Union want to see Russia as the strong democratic state.
All in all, thanks to this programme Anastasia was able to establish contacts with the EU institutions, define directions of possible cooperation, provide information about EU Centre and PetrSU for the attraction of foreign students.