AER Training Academy

To be able to fully participate in a regional and European democracy policy makers and officers need to be well informed of the workings of the European Union. Therefore the AER Standing Committee on Institutional Affairs initiated the AER Training Academy. This Academy provides tailor-made basic training in European affairs to officers and politicians from AER member regions. The training consists of a 2-day module held usually in Brussels (BE). The module covers 3 core topics (i) European Institutions and Decision-making (ii) Effective Lobbying, and (iii) EU Funding Opportunities.

The aim of the Training Academy is: - to provide free-of-charge training to officers and politicians from AER member regions in the workings of the European Union

- to ensure that AER member regions are well-equipped to optimise the benefits offered to them by the European Union

- to ensure that AER member regions have the capacity and skills to fully engage in the AER's lobbying work - to introduce participants to AER tools, such as policy and funding trackers and partnership pools.

The target groups for the training sessions are officers in the member regions, relatively new to European affairs and politicians wishing to refresh their knowledge and understanding of the European Union, new staff and interns in the Brussels offices of the AER member regions. Participation in each workshop is limited to a maximum of 25 people, in order to allow for interactive work. Participation is also limited to AER member regions only.

In delivering the training, the AER works in partnership with a small number of its member regions that already have a good track record in delivering training in European affairs. Partner regions include: Brussels Capital (BE), South West UK (UK), Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT), Baden-Württemberg (DE), Salzburg (AT) and Ile de France (FR) and Poitou-Charentes (FR). These regions each provide trainers who take responsibility for delivering a specific part of the training module.

• 

For the future the AER will develop more advanced modules examining specific institutions and policy areas in depth. These training modules will also be delivered outside of Brussels, at the request of a group of regions, a political party or a national association.  

Presentations of past sessions : March 17-18, 2008 (French session). 

For further information, do not hesitate to contact Regine Kramer (r.kramerdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu ; +32 2 421 83 89) or Stéphane Cools (s.coolsdelete_me(at)aerdelete_me.eu ; +32 2 421 85 12)