A week-long training seminar on How to Advocate, Represent and Negotiate National Interests in the EU was recently held for over 30 officials from the Resources and Rural Affairs Ministry.

A first step towards having a sufficiently trained group of officials for the EU presidency

It provided officials directly or indirectly involved in EU matters or who will be involved in such matters, with practical knowledge and tools to effectively take part in EU legislative decisions, and tools for influencing them.

Apart from providing the participants with the skills necessary for ongoing discussions, the training also served as a first step towards having a sufficiently trained group of officials for the Maltese EU presidency scheduled for the first half of 2017.

The sessions guided participants through the documents, instruments, calculations and decisions needed to efficiently represent and negotiate national interests in Brussels.

The methods used during the sessions were both practical and interactive, and combined theoretical aspects, empirical knowledge and a learning-by-doing approach, by using group reflection sessions, checklists, thematic workshops and three simulation exercises.

The trainers, who were from the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht, The Netherlands, included Alain Guggenbuhl, a senior lecturer in European governance and negotiations, and Frank Lavadoux, a senior lecturer and expert in negotiation and communication techniques.

The course, which was organised by the MRRA’s European Union Affairs Directorate in collaboration with EIPA and the Centre for Development, Research and Training (CDRT – Malta), was financed through the European Social Fund.