Law Soc sends delegation to Brussels. Well to Louvain-la-Neuve, actually.

An Focal

On Sunday 14th of March two members of the Debating Union, James

Gaffney and Judith Lynch arrived in the purpose-built, windswept and 

fairly deserted university town of Louvain-la-Neuve to participate in 

that college’s European Society’s inaugural European Week.  

Thankfully the town was only empty because it was a Sunday, and it 

seems that all Belgian students go home for the weekend – it had 

livened up by Monday.  However, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed we 

weren’t, having attended the UL Debating Intervarsity party until 

some ungodly hour the night before.

The town itself is a surreal place – some people commented that it 

looked like something straight out of Star Wars.  It’s only twenty 

years old, full of modern architecture and built entirely over a 

three-story car park.  The entire town centre is pedestrianised and 

is full of narrow streets, little squares and staircases.  Its 

website states that no one remains indifferent to the new town, and I 

would have to agree with them.

About 90 participants took part in the week’s activities, with people 

coming from as far as Turkey, Mexico, Burundi and Dublin to take 

part.  Romania, Poland and Ireland (There were 8 others from TCD) 

were the best-represented nationalities there.  It seemed as if most 

of those that partook in the week were either from the accession 

states or from the periphery of the EU, like ourselves.

First thing on Monday morning we went on a trip to the European 

Parliament in Brussels, a chance in a lifetime to come face-to-face 

with those faceless Eurocrats we had heard so much about.  We 

listened to a talk on the workings of the Parliament from a Belgian 

MEP, we were also addressed by a lobbyist about the work they do, and 

the final talk was by a 24-year-old Polish elected representative, 

who aired the Polish fears that when they join and restrictions on 

freedom of movement are lifted, the country will experience an exodus 

of its bright young educated workers.  I thought it was interesting 

to hear about enlargement from the other side of the fence – it made 

a refreshing contrast with the Sun’s scare mongering about the flood 

of benefit tourists only too ready to bleed our welfare system dry.

On Monday afternoon we went on a guided tour of Brussels.  I must 

admit that it was more or less how I expected it to look – full of 

grey office blocks and important looking suited people walking around 

with important looking documents and wearing important looking 

expressions.  That evening on returning to Louvain we attended a 

debate in a pub about The Bologna Process.  As exhilarating as that 

sounds, the disco afterwards was probably better – accompanied as it 

was with plentiful quantities of what our hosts referred to as “good, 

very good, Berrshian beer.”  They kind of roll their ‘l’s like that 

you see.

On Tuesday morning some of the delegation dragged themselves out of 

be for a European Table Quiz.  The prize was more good Belgian beer 

and good Belgian chocolate.  That afternoon it was down to the 

serious business of taking part in the model European Parliament.

On Monday night everyone had to choose which political group to be a 

part of and also which committee meeting they would attend.  I 

attended the foreign policy and defence committee, where we had to 

debate a motion that the EU would condemn Israel for building the 

defence wall.  To say it was a fiery affair would be a bit of an 

understatement.  The committee had to decide what amendments it would 

make and then vote on them one by one – simple in theory I suppose.  

It was a really good insight into why everything in the political 

process takes so long to get done.  On Wednesday morning we reported 

back to our political group the results reached in our committees the 

previous day and we decided what stance the party would take when the 

matter was discussed at the Plenary Session of the Louvain-la-Neuve 

European Parliament that afternoon.  Again, this was a great 

experience in terms of experiencing the workings of a parliament from 

the inside.  Without further ado, we retired to a public house for a 

bit of craic agus ceoil to celebrate Paddy’s Day, and explain to 

confused Eastern Europeans the link between a Welshman that rid 

Ireland of snakes forever and our fondness for celebrating this very 

fact every year since.

On Thursday we went to Brussels again, this time for a talk on the 

historical development of the EU, given in the Commission.  We had 

the whole afternoon free to buy chocolates and European Merchandise, 

because that’s what tourists buy in Brussels apparently.  Some people 

would have preferred, nay needed desperately, to have been in bed, 

but then we can’t have it all our way now can we?  That evening the 

organisers arranged an International Buffet.  Everybody had to cook a 

dish from their own country and bring it to the hall were they could 

then go and sample all sorts of exotic culinary delights, ranging 

from Turkish Delight to Polish potatoes cooked in a slightly 

different way to Irish potatoes to Romanian 40% proof moonshine that 

came in a bottle with no label but was apparently 14 years old.  Our 

Irish Coffees went down a treat.

I would definitely recommend participation in this week next year to 

anyone with an interest in the future of Europe, and if you would 

like to meet people from loads of different cultures.  It is open to 

all students across Europe and beyond, and participation is free.

Anyone interested in participating in AEUL’s European Week next year 

can from the Université of Louvain-la-Neuve’s European Society’s 

website, or you can email the organisers at auel_ucl@yahoo.com.


Photos: Cyril Plapied, Serge Bibauw, Acutius, Trent Strohm