Brussels municipalities

For many European citizens who settle in Brussels, local town hall staff provide their first contact with the city. The administrative procedures for dealing with Europeans are complex and constantly changing, particularly following the recent expansion of the European Union. To prepare municipal officers for their tasks, the Brussels-Europe Liaison Office organises training sessions every two years in which experts from various fields talk about their experiences.

Training sessions are held in the European Parliament and regularly attract more than 400 local authority civil servants with reponsibility for welcoming new arrivals. The speakers are drawn from various backgrounds, including the Belgian Immigration Service, the Protocol Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Brussels Region and the European Commission.

The main aim of the Liaison Office in organising these training sessions is to provide Europeans with a more positive image of the various municipal administrations in Brussels. In addition, they are intended to give local authority staff an improved understanding of the European institutions based in Brussels, and to dispel some of the negative images linked to the European presence. These sessions offer an ideal opportunity for local civil servants to meet colleagues from other administrations, as well as representatives from European institutions.

The most recent training session was held on 17-20 November 2008.