A working group of College of Europe students will be visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories on 15-25 August 2007. Through a range of meetings with leading European, Israeli and Palestinian political actors, the group will investigate and discuss the relationships between the European Union, Israel and the Palestinians and produce reports in written and filmed formats. Closely associating Israeli and Palestinian fellow students to their programme, this visit will also allow the group to lay the basis for the development of future projects, in the framework of the Euro-Middle East Students Forum (EMES Forum).
The EMES Forum was recently established by College of Europe students in Bruges (Belgium) to promote dialogue, foster mutual understanding and deepen cooperation between Europe and the Middle East through a range of innovative activities. By developing an active network of students, decision-makers, experts and practitioners, the students seek to improve their practical skills, acquire a concrete understanding of the EU's external relations and participate in the production of new ideas.
During its visit, the group also wants to encourage fellow students from the Middle East to apply to the College of Europe, in order to build ever stronger links. Created in 1949, the College of Europe is the world's oldest university institute of postgraduate studies and training in European affairs. The College welcomes over 400 students coming from more than 45 countries for the 2007/08 academic year on its Bruges and Natolin (Warsaw) campuses in the coming months.
