The annual study trip to Brussels for a group of 100 first-year students took place from 20 – 23 December, 2017.

The students had the opportunity to discuss current EU affairs like EU migration policies, transatlantic relations, or cyber security with representatives from the respective EU institutions. The following meetings were organised:
• At the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU: briefings by Robert HALLER-WANK (DA graduate, Counsellor, Austrian Deputy Representative at the Political and Security Committee, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU), and by Rita HINEK (EPSO.05 – Communication, Project manager for EU Careers Ambassadors, European Personnel Selection Office)
• At NATO-Headquarters: briefings by Michael RÜHLE (Emerging Security Challenges Division [ESC], Head of Energy Security Section), and Martin BOTTA (Deputy Head of Mission of Austria to NATO)
• Socialising with DA alumni working in Brussels
• At the European Parliament: briefings by Jan REBRIBNA (Information Department of the EP); Jan STADLER (DA graduate, office of the European Ombudsman) and Nicolae STEFANUTA (DA graduate; European Parliament)
• At the European Commission: briefings by Grzegorz MINCZAKIEWICZ (Cyber Security, DG Informatics), Borja GUIJARRO USOBIAGA (The EU’s energy policy, DG Energy), Katerina WOLFOVA (European policy on migration, DG Migration and Home Affairs), Florin NITA (Security Union: progress and challenges ahead, DG Migration and Home)
• At the Council of the European Union: briefing by Major Katharina BENFORD (responsible for EU operations at the German Military Representative to the NATO and EU Military Committee)

The annual study trip to Brussels for a group of 102 first-year students took place from 27 – 29 March, 2017.

The students had the opportunity to discuss current EU affairs like EU migration policies, transatlantic relations, or Brexit with representatives from the respective EU institutions. The following meetings were organised:
• At the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU: briefings by Robert Haller-Wank (DA graduate, First Secretary, Nicolaidis, Political and Security Committee, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU), and Lisa Butzenlechner (DA graduate, Bluebook Trainee in the Cabinet of the Irish Commissioner Phil Hogan for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission)
• At NATO-Headquarters: briefings by Michael Rühle (Emerging Security Challenges Division [ESC], Head of Energy Security Section), and Martin Botta (Deputy Head of Mission of Austria to NATO)
• Socialising with DA alumni working in Brussels
• At the European Parliament: briefings by Axel Heyer (Information Department of the EP); Vera Kadas (DA graduate, Council of the European Union); Jan Stadler (DA graduate, office of the European Ombudsman) and Nicolae Stefanuta (DA graduate; European Parliament)
• At the European Commission: briefings by Fabian Lutz (Legal migration and integration, DG Migration and home affairs), Rafal Domisiewicz (Division United States of America and Canada, EEAS), and Francois Fischer (Head of Division Intelligence analysis, EEAS)
• At the Council of the European Union: briefing by Simonetta Cook (Political Advisor, European Council and Strategic Planning Unit, General Policy Directorate, General Secretariat of the Council of the EU)

The annual study trip to Brussels for a group of 98 first-year students took place from 16 – 18 December, 2015.

The students had the opportunity to discuss current EU affairs, such as the Economic and Monetary Union, the European Social Dialogue, Climate Change, or crisis management in Ukraine, with representatives from the respective EU institutions. The following meetings were organised:
• At the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU: briefings by Robert Wank (DA graduate, Delegate CIVCOM Committee, Political and Security Policy Committee of the European Union, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU), Kornelia Lienhart (DA Graduate, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber [WKÖ], Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU), and Victor Vaugoin (DA graduate, European Affairs Manager, ÖBB [Austrian Federal Railways Group])
• Socialising with DA alumni working in Brussels
• At the European Parliament: briefing by Māris Graudiš (Visits and Seminars Unit, DG Communication)
• At the European Commission: briefings by Robert Gangl (Unit Communication, Directorate-General Economic and Financial Affairs), Peter Zapfel (Head of Unit, Implementation of ETS, Directorate-General Climate Action), and Erik Johansen (Policy Advisor, Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, European External Action Service)

The annual study trip to Brussels for a group of 99 first-year students took place from 25 – 27 March, 2015.

The students had the opportunity to discuss current EU affairs, like the Ukraine / Russia crisis or the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), with representatives from the respective EU institutions. The following meetings were organised:
• At the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU: briefings by Lucia Kronsteiner (DA graduate, Deputy Representative to the PSC, delegate RELEX Working Group), Klaus Iro (First Secretary, Delegate to RAG COWEB, Enlargement and COELA), and Victor Vaugoin (DA graudate, European Affairs Manager, ÖBB [Austrian Federal Railways Group])
• Socialising with DA alumni working in Brussels
• At the European Parliament: briefings by Pavel Cernoch (Information Department of the EP); Marcin Gasiuk (DA alumni; EP, Secretariat of the Subcommittee on Human Rights) and Nicolae Stefanuta (DA alumni; Directorate General of External Policies of the Union)
• At the European Commission: briefings with Miranda Dawkins (Unit USA and Canada, Directorate General Trade), Sophia Popoff (Unit Eastern partnership, European External Action Service), and Robert Gangl (Directorate general Economic and Financial Affairs)

The annual study trip to Brussels for a group of 98 first-year students took place from 8 April – 11 April, 2014.

The students had the opportunity to discuss current EU affairs, like the upcoming European Elections in May 2014, with representatives from the respective EU institutions. The following meetings were organised:
• At the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU: briefings by George-Wilhelm Gallhofer (COWEB and COELA delegate, Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU), and Wolfgang Pointner (DG ECFIN – A2 Programme design and support, European Commission)
• Socialising with DA alumni working in Brussels
• At the European Parliament: briefings by the Information Department of the EP (Q&A), and Marcin Gasiuk (DA alumni; EP, Secretariat of the Subcommittee on Human Rights)
• At the European Commission: briefings with Mark Corner (Member of the External Speakers Team), Bernd Spanier (European External Action Service), and Florian Geyer (Directorate-General Justice)