The European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) enables young leaders from countries outside the European Union to obtain first-hand impressions of the European Union's policies, Institutions and achievements and to increase mutual understanding between professionals from non-EU countries and their EU counterparts.
The EUVP is jointly supported and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission. It has been in operation since 1974.
A EUVP visit consists of an individual five- to eight-day programme of meetings with EU officials at the EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and /or Luxembourg.
All programmes are coordinated and arranged by the EUVP Secretariat in Brussels. Each visit is custom tailored to the wishes of each participant and takes place during the following year. Travel and hotel costs for the round trip are covered by the EUVP. As well, a per diem is paid to each participant to cover meals and incidentals.
Who is eligible to participate?
Eligible participants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada between the ages of 25 and 45 and have a career-related interest in the EU. They include government officials (municipal, provincial, federal), journalists, trade unionists, educators and officials of non-profit, non-government organisations.
Participants will have completed university education, or equivalent training and will already gained some years of professional experience.
The EUVP is neither open to students nor to business people.
How are participants selected?
EUVP participants are selected by a Committee chaired jointly by a Member of the European Parliament and a Member of the European Commission. Four visitors from Canada are selected each year.
Only successful applicants will be contacted after the deliberations of the Selection Committee which usually take place in Brussels in the fall.
How to apply?
Online at www.delcan.ec.europa.eu/euvp
What is required when filling out the form?
o description of applicant's current position and area of expertise
o brief outline of sector to be studied (e.g. agriculture, environment, social policy, etc.) indicating how it relates to applicant's career objectives
o up-to-date curriculum vitae (short description and no list of publications)
The yearly deadline for applications is March 31st with the visit to be made the following year.
Any further questions should be addressed to the EUVP Liaison Officer, at the Delegation of the European Commission to Canada by phone at (613) 238-6464 or by fax at (613) 238-5191 or by e-mail atdelegation-canada@ec.europa.eu