Serving an internship in Brussels

Transcription

1 Serving an internship in Brussels Internships (called stages in Brussels) have become not only an acceptable, but also a very prestigious means of bringing together theoretical experience learned in colleges and universities with the practical everyday World of Work. In the realm of International Politics, there are no more prestigious internship programs in Europe than those available in Brussels, Belgium, headquarters of the European Union (EU). For this reason, there are thousands of young people from all over the World (and especially young people from the present and future EU member states) applying for them. Stages provide the World of Work for the participating political, economic, and social organizations of the EU - with young, enthusiastic, energetic, highly-educated helpers at little or no cost. This is acceptable to most applicants because they realize they are being compensated not with money but with important experience. Most of the organizations invest a lot of time bringing the new interns (called Stagiaires in Brussels) "on line," up to a level of expertise where they can perform serious and critical tasks just as well as salaried staff. The Stagiaires are rewarded by being given the opportunity of participating in the practical day-to-day real World of International Politics. Here the application of the theories they have learned in their colleges and universities is put to real use. The exchange is mutually beneficial. Having myself completed an internship for the German State of Bremen in Brussels, I was asked to provide some helpful information which will make the application process easier for future applicants. Before coming to Brussels Who should apply? Most of the Stagiaires are college or university graduates, usually between 25 and 30. Many are involved in advanced studies. Many are law students, and there are a few from the fields of economics, and political science. But anyone with a degree who has an interest in "European or International Affairs" can apply. English and French are the main working languages of the EU; therefore, a good knowledge of these languages is essential and, of course, every additional language you have knowledge of is an asset. However you should not be afraid of trying to speak other languages because practically everyone in Brussels is a foreigner! Everyone, and especially 1

2 the Belgians themselves, are delighted when someone tries to speak and understand their language. No one worries too much about perfect grammar. Where to apply, and when? This question cannot be answered in general. If you want to apply to a European Institution, sometimes you have to follow a certain procedure (whereby the one for the European Commission seems to be the hardest). Concerning these institutions, all information can be found online at: The European Commission: The European Parliament: This page offers a very good overview concerning all other European Institutions: You should send your letter of application at least one year in advance. The European Institutions, however, are not the only interesting places to start a stage. In the meantime nearly every company or organisation is represented in Brussels. The best way might be to identify initially the company/organisation you are interested in. The second step would be to find out (e.g. over the internet) whether they have a European office. If they have, the best thing would be to phone directly and ask how to apply and who your contact person is. Payment/Taxes Even if you are lucky with your application, the payment for your stage will certainly not be more than 750 Euro per month, and quite often there is no payment offered at all. You are responsible for declaring taxes in your home-country if necessary. That depends not only on your national fiscal system but also on your general income and official status (e.g. student). Your national finance office will give you all the necessary information. Another way to get a little money could be a special scholarship for studies/stages in a foreign country. For example, programs funded by the European Union: But there are also national organisations like the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes ( or the German Academic Exchange Service ( also available for non-germans. Just contact them directly; it might be worth it. 2

3 Where to live? Because most of the stages are not paid, or only paid a little, everybody is seeking a cheap apartment (mostly furnished). Of course the Bruxellois know that. That is the reason that the prices for rooms to rent are between 250 Euro (very cheap) and 400 Euro per month. Unfortunately there s no best way to find a home in Brussels. Sometimes, the company/institution has a list of addresses. But you can also read the classified advertisements or put yourself on the internet-platform ( classifieds, Homeshares ). A good way could also be just to contact the stagiare who is presently serving an apprenticeship. I am sure that he/she will be willing to help. And this leads us to a wonderful phenomenon in Brussels: cooperativeness. Since we all need help sooner or later and because everybody is (or at least was) in the same helpless situation at some time, nearly everybody in Brussels is most helpful. There is also another reason for being friendly with each other: Brussels is a very small place. You can be sure that you will meet everybody again during your stagiare-time. Or at least you can be sure that you will always meet people who knows the other person. Brussels is a network-paradise, so always try to keep this in mind. Just one last note concerning the location: the quartiers. Because Brussels is also small at the territorial level, nothing is really far from the centre. Nevertheless there are some most wanted and some most hated areas. The quartier européen, that means the area around the European Institutions is not really advisable. Because of all the offices etc., this quartier is virtually abandoned after 8:00 p.m. and on week-ends. Therefore you could feel a bit lost and lonely there. In addition it is not the safest area. The same is true (sadly) for the areas around the train stations. The more interesting areas are: Ixelles (very multi-cultured and pleasant, near the University), Uccle or St. Gilles (wonderful - but a bit more costly), Schaerbeek or the quartier around the Bourse in the middle of the city. Here you will find no sleep in summer because of all the exciting restaurants, bars etc. Very nice if you are only staying for a few months. Health insurance/medical care You are responsible for your insurance. For the time of your stage, you normally stay covered in your Home-Country. When it is an EU-member-state, you should ask for a E111 application form or an E128 application form that will simplify the financial procedure in case that you have a medical consultation. The difference between these two application forms is that the E111 (usually taken for a holiday-trip) entitles you only for medical treatments which 3

4 are absolutely necessary. The E128 application form allows you also medical treatments which are not that urgent. Therefore, you should try to get an E128. If there is really the need to get medical aid: you are free to chose the doctor you want. You have to pay immediately - also for any medicines. After returning to your country you may give in the receipt and your health insurance will reimburse most of the money. In Brussels there are many multilingual doctors. Your national Embassy in Brussels should be able to send or to give you a list of doctors in Brussels who speak your mother tongue. Of course they cannot assume responsibility for their professional ability or integrity. Arrived in Brussels There are a few administrative things to do initially starting with the: Métro-Ticket In Belgium the age limit is 26. When you are older, you have to pay full prices even when you are a student. To get the little yellow plastic thing needed for your monthly-ticket, you should allow a whole afternoon. There are only six Metro-Stations where you can get them (see Info, Points de vent ). But than you haven t finished yet. After that you have to line up again to buy that little card, your monthly-ticket. But, once done, everything becomes much easier. These monthly-tickets are also available in most of the newspapershops but not always. Make sure that you ask for them at the end of the previous month or at the first day of the new one because these dealers always have a small contingent. Bank account When you are lucky and get paid for your work, it could be very useful to have a Belgian account. They are easy to open. Because the enormous number of short-term Bruxellois, most of the banks offer very easy access. Don t be shy. Just step in and ask and they will help you. Keep in mind to ask about the fees before because for some banks the age line for a free student account ends at the age of 24. In any case an account is not too expensive (from 1,50 to 2,- Euro per month). Become a legal alien resident the real challenge If you stay longer than three months you have to decide whether you will ask for a permanent carte de séjour (an extended stay permit) or not. That really depends on you and your employer. Officially you must do this when you want to stay longer than three 4

5 months in Brussels. There is a special agreement for the Stagiaires of the European Commission, but ask your employer. If you have to register yourself well, I can assure you that getting this paper was the biggest challenge during my time in Europe s capital! The normal procedure is like this: Call the commune you are living in (i.g. Ixelles, St. Gilles etc.), the service étranger. They will give you an appointment. You must have with you the following documents: your health insurance paper (E111 or E128), your hiring contract, possibly your certificate of employment and a lot of passport photographs. No kidding. They ask for so many of these pictures that some people assume that there s a huge collecting community, specialized in collecting passport photographs of foreigners. And, last but not least, don t forget your identity card. A few weeks later they will call you and tell you when you are allowed to come and get your five-years-permission. But be careful - if you miss this date no matter for what reason you will have to wait again for weeks. Living standard foods, mobile telephone etc. In short: Brussels is expensive. Not as expensive as Paris or London but It starts with the foods and it ends with the mobile telephone, which is called GSM in Belgium. The problem of the daily meal can be solved by participating regularly at official receptions. Most of the European Bruxellois do so. Nevertheless, of course, it is a good idea not to annoy your shortterm-host too much by drinking too much alcohol etc. When I arrived in Brussels there had been such a lot of unfriendly, overbearing and boozing stagiaires before me that in consequence some institutions denied the participation of stagiares. Not really the smartest way to leave one s mark. Brussels - Party time!!! When you spend some time in Brussels you will meet more people than you ever had imagined possible. Apart from all these official receptions it depends on the Stagiares to organise their private life - and also their private party time. The Stagiares of the European Commission regularly organise a Stagiares-Party. Unfortunately these happenings are very expensive but a lot of fun. Of course there are also a lot of other places to go in Brussels, but as I already mentioned contacting and organising other activities is up to you. During my almost two years in Brussels I had some extremely pleasant times with group picnics in the Parc de Tervuren, museum-visits and also private cooking-parties. These times were also followed by very calm periods where hardly any group activities were organised. But because the Stagiares change every few months there are always new opportunities. The German Stagiares created in spring 2002 a Yahoo-Newsgroup in the internet - -, open for all nationalities, of course. There is 5

6 also an English one: These Newsgroups are also beneficial if you need help or information concerning any subject. Usually there is a member in this group able and willing to help you. All the links Looking for a stage in Brussels: Looking for a scholarship: Looking for a Job in Brussels: Looking for a room in Brussels: Looking at your life in Brussels: Looking for Internet-Newsgroups in Brussels: Looking for moving in Brussels and Belgium: Looking for books about stages/stagiare in Brussels : Rechenberg: Stage Europe (German), gives detailed information about a lot of institutions etc. Europa-Kontakt Informations- und Verlagsgesellschaft mbh, Price: 17 Euro. Janna Wolff - janna.wolff@ .de or