EOA Alumni 2003/2004

"Being of Czech origin, I just wanted to know more about EU law and politics at a time when the EU constitution was not considered as a lost battle, but as a symbol for a new Europe at the edge of enlargement. I had been thinking about doing a regular master programme in European studies, but usually there is presence required, something that was far from being compatible with my job.

The EOA certainly put me on track to pass the EU competition, the so-called 'concours' (and I was not the only one from my class..).

It was a great opportunity to meet open-minded people from all parts of Europe - with some of them I am still in loose contact, and one even became a close friend. My best memory of the EOA is certainly the seminar in Berlin, wisely scheduled over the weekend of the 1st of May, 2004 - the day when the EU grew bigger. We watched the enthusiastic celebrations and fireworks designed to welcome the new Member States. Some of us over night had become European citizens."

David Zelinger, Press Officer at the European Parliament