Bruges Research Institute on the Future of Europe (BRIEF) welcome Commissioner Schmit to launch its activities

On 21 November, the Bruges Research Institute on the Future of Europe (BRIEF), the student-led think-tank of the College of Europe, held its opening event with Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit and Rector Federica Mogherini. After the introduction of the renewed aims of the student-led think tank of the College by its co-chairs, Aritz Castro Landazuri and Carmen Pérez Gómez, the Rector introduced the Commissioner by thanking him for his 5-years work. 

In his speech, the Commissioner expressed his joy in being back at a university, this time as a keynote speaker. Among the achievements he mentioned, he highlighted his honour of having carried out the new Minimum Wages Directive and expressed his hopes of having it ratified by all Member States soon. Moreover, he referred to the good opportunity it was to talk to the students of the Delors promotion on social policy as he believed the internal market was not only about the economy but also needed a social dimension.

After the Commissioner’s speech, the Working Groups in which the BRIEF team is divided were presented by Meie van der Steeg and Alessandro Rigacci. These are Foreign Policy and Enlargement; Institutional Reform; Climate and Energy; Cohesion and Social Policy; and Trade, Industrial Policy and Financial Regulation. With more events and conferences to come, after its creation during the Sassoli Promotion, the think tank is back on track!