EUVP visit story - Marko Savic

Are you considering applying for the EUVP visit? Ever wondered how the EUVP programmes are organised and what their outcomes are? Follow the “EUVP visit stories”, featuring unique reports and testimonials from those who have joined us at the heart of the EU!

Mr. Marko Savic, a teaching assistant from the Faculty of Political Science at the Corps of International Relations at the University of Montenegro, attended the EUVP in Brussels in October 2019. His visit revolved around EU foreign policy themes, such as the enlargement policies, the status of Montenegro and wider geopolitical issues.

But how did his EUVP journey start? Mr. Savic learnt about the call for proposals from the website of the EU Delegation in Montenegro (https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/montenegro_en).

“I applied because it was interesting to me that someone was offering a platform where you could introduce yourself, and your work, to address issues that are very important. I learnt about the European Union Visitors Programme through previous participants, and I applied on my own initiative,” said Mr. Savic.

Upon being shortlisted by the EU Delegation in Montenegro and selected by the EUVP Management Committee in Brussels, Mr. Savic was asked to prepare a Statement of Purpose for his visit. Among his interests for the visit, he mentioned: “the status of enlargement policy after the last elections to the EU Parliament, and to discuss the status of Montenegro in the accession process”. Given that he is simultaneously pursuing an academic career, as well as a career in public policy, his statement was certainly very detailed.

“Empowering this parallel path was key towards allowing for my motivation for the programme to be seen by decision makers in Brussels. In the end, this was also what I had heard from interviewers that received both my CV and my motivation letter”.

When receiving the tailor-made programme of his visit, Mr. Savic was pleased about the visit’s timing, the overall programme, and the tips he received on how to navigate his visit to Brussels.

“The impressions are such that you are in front of a huge apparatus that functions, from our view, like a Swiss watch – the EUVP had placed a lot of emphasis on accuracy in the programme. The other strong point was the immediacy of almost every interviewer I had the opportunity to meet, whether high-level EU officials at their offices, or think-tank analysts” Mr. Savic noted.

Mr. Savic enjoyed the fact that everything had been well specified in advance. He received an extensive programme of five meetings a day during the five working days he spent in Brussels. The programme included meetings with representatives from the Cabinet of the Commissioner in charge of Neighbourhood and Enlargement and members of the Cabinet of the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Mr. Savic also emphasised his meeting with officials from the European Commission’s Spokesperson Office as a high point of his visit.

Mr. Savic was able to discuss his interest in the Western Balkans with officials from the European Commission. Furthermore, he was very pleased with his meetings in the Committee of the Regions, and the Economic and Social Committee, where he was able to speak to EU officials dealing specifically with the Western Balkans and Montenegro.

“I complemented my Brussels’ puzzle with the views and opinions of policy professionals working in the most influential think tanks. I met with Friends of Europe, and Europe Policy Centre, and spoke to individuals who perform similar work as NGOs and think tank organisations in Montenegro, or the region, and who have other perspectives on the enlargement process to the Western Balkans.

Mr. Savic recognised that his impressions from the visit to Brussels were fantastic, and noted that the organisation of his visit was excellent. Furthermore, he thinks that there is a wide range of people who he would recommend applying to the EUVP to and that the Programme should be promoted more widely in Montenegro.

If you would like to follow Mr Savic path and become the EUVP participant, please contact the EU Delegation in your country to express your interest.

A version of this article was originally published by the EU Info Centre in Montenegro and is accessible here.