EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth to study at UWC – study visit to Brussels

In their first ever joint study trip, 17 EU high school students from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities studying at the United World Colleges (UWC) in Germany and in the Netherlands are visiting Brussels on 13 and 14 March to learn about the EU institutions, policies and programmes.

According a press release issued by the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, the study visit is organised within the framework of the EU Scholarship Programme for Cypriot Youth to study at UWC, a bi-communal peace programme that aims to build trust and mutual understanding between the communities with the overarching goal of contributing to reconciliation and Cyprus’ reunification.

With the slogan Back to the Roots: Cypriot Youth for a Peaceful and United Future, the study visit is an opportunity for the high school students to familiarise themselves with the functioning of EU institutions such as the European Commission and the European Parliament and have meetings with Commissioner Ferreira’s Cabinet and the European Commission department in charge of Cyprus settlement support. They will also visit the Experience Europe Exhibition Centre and the House of European History and will meet with a youth-led NGO promoting peace and human rights in Europe.

The Director-General of the EU Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support, Mario Nava made a statement regarding the visit.

He said: “Cypriot youths can have a great influence to foster stronger ties between the people of Cyprus, by showing that peaceful coexistence and friendships are possible across the dividing line, as demonstrated by this group. I hope that their entire academic experience at the UWC and their visit in Brussels today, will inspire the Cypriot students from both communities to bring a message of cooperation and unity to the whole island”.