European Union Visitors Programme
The European Union Visitors Program (EUVP) was established by the European Parliament and the European Commission in 1974 to strengthen the EU's global ties.
What is EUVP?
The European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) is the key strategic tool of the EU’s public, people-to-people diplomacy enhancing the EU’s smart power, global impact and outreach. It was established in 1974 and has since then been jointly managed by the European Parliament and the European Commission. The EUVP is supervised by Dr Othmar Karas, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and by Josep Borrell Fontelles, Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The EUVP’s distinguished Alumni include many former and current national political leaders, high-ranking government officials, academics and business people.
The EUVP seeks to cultivate long-lasting relationships between visitors and their European contacts in order to sustain and maximise its impact. It therefore has a longer-term commitment to remain in touch with its distinguished Alumni after their visit with the aim of creating a global network of friends and supporters of the EU.
Who can participate?
In close cooperation with EU Delegations throughout the world, the EUVP invites young political leaders and opinion-formers. They come from countries and international organisations outside the EU. Their study visits enhance mutual knowledge and understanding, foster common values, and promote EU interests and policies.
Visitors have usually completed university education or equivalent training and have already gained a few years of professional experience. Basic knowledge of the EU Institutions and how they work is required, as is a sufficiently good command of English or French to allow active participation in meetings.
What activities to expect?
The EUVP provides tailor-made study visits to meet Members of the European Parliament, officials from the EU Institutions, and other EU stakeholders. The visits comprise both individual and joint meetings and activities with fellow EUVP participants. Joint meetings and activities are organised on the basis of visitors’ thematic interests, or by bringing together visitors from neighbouring countries or regions.
