Sep 09 - Gibraltar Students Visit Brussels

Last week a group of Gibraltarian students visited the European Institutions in Brussels on a 2-day educational trip.

The trip began with a visit to the European Parliament, where they were given a tour of the building and a presentation on the structure and functions of the Parliament. A particular highlight was viewing the hemicycle from the Upper Gallery. The hemicycle is where European Parliament plenary sessions take place and it houses the 751 MEPs whilst the most important discussions are held.

The group then met with Green Party MEP Molly Scott Cato to discuss Gibraltar’s position in Europe and the potential implications of Brexit. The students were particularly interested in discussing the potential of a second referendum and the feasibility of a ‘reverse Greenland’ solution.

After a lunch of Belgian frites and croquettes the students visited the European Council. The current EU Council Secretariat, Mr Anders Kjellgren, explained the Council of Ministers and how it functions, including difficulties it faces in the decision-making process and examples of compromises which have to be reached between member states.

The following day the students visited the European External Action Service (EEAS), for a series of talks on the EEAS and the Common Security and Defence Policy for the member states of the European Union. After a short sightseeing break the group travelled to Gibraltar House for a working lunch with Sir Graham Watson, who left them feeling optimistic for a Brexit solution.

The group then visited the European Commission the administrative and largest of the European Institutions, where they learned about the function of the Commission, the presidency, its history, and its role in the gears of the Union through a thought-provoking member of the Commission's staff.

Their busy schedule led the students back to the European Parliament for a final meeting with Labour MEP Clare Moody with whom they enjoyed a lively and meaningful question and answer session. Ms Moody emphasised the need for Gibraltar’s voice to be heard in any discussions of what a post-Brexit future might look like.

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