Introduction to the European Institutions is a program that the European Journalism Centre (EJC) at Maastricht has designed in cooperation with the European Commission. It aims to help journalists understand European issues and events. The program consists of seminars and visits and is sponsored by the commissionнs national offices and official delegations, EJC reported.

The program can be of flexible duration, and the content can be varied to meet individual requirements. The level can be introductory or advanced. The content can concentrate on a single theme or cover general European issues.

The seminars are generally held at EJC in Maastricht. The program incorporates journalistic workshops, lectures, online research, contributions from experienced Brussels correspondents and group discussion. The visits are mainly to Brussels-based institutions but can include trips to Strasbourg and Luxembourg as required. Meetings are with officials and experts involved in a particular issue. Round table discussions are arranged with members of the European Parliament and with colleagues from the Brussels press corps.

Introduction to the European Institutions is intended for editors on foreign desks, or other desks of national news media that handle European news, who wish to develop their European contact network. It is also for journalists (print or audio-visual) from the national, regional or local media that work or intend to work on issues with a European dimension, and journalism students who need to include in their studies a European dimension at an advanced level.

The European Union and European Journalism Centre cover the costs of tuition, accommodation and subsistence for the course. Travel costs to and from Maastricht will be paid by the participants or will be negotiated with the respective national office of the European Commission.For more information visit http://www.ejc.nl/cp/courses.html?173.