The UN Disarmament Fellows’ Visit to Brussels

On 14-16 September 2022, the VCDNP, on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC) organized a visit to the seat of the European policy organs in Brussels, Belgium, for the participants of the United Nations Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament.

The visit of the Disarmament Fellows to Brussels is aimed at introducing them to the policies and functioning of the European Union (EU).

The programme started with a visit to the House of European History, where Fellows learned about European history in all its complexity and the decades-long process that has created the European Union.

The tour was followed by a dinner with a keynote speech delivered by Amb. Lars-Erik Lundin, who provided an overview of the main EU institutions and policies with a particular focus to the EU’s security approach and the global strategies related to weapons of mass destruction and small arms and light weapons. Amb. Lundin also talked about his experience as the EU Ambassador to the International organizations in Vienna and as the Deputy Political Director of the EU Commission.

Fellows started the second day of their visit in Brussels with a tour of the Parlamentarium and of the European Parliament, where they got acquainted with the structure and functions of EU’s main institutions and policy-making bodies. Later in the day, experts from the EUNPD Consortium and Network organizations, from NATO and from the Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave thematic presentations and discussed with the Fellows issues related to EU security, export control regimes and EU policies, the non-proliferation regime and its future, as well as drivers for disarmament diplomacy.

EUNPD Consortium Chair Dr. Sybille Bauer also provided an overview of the Consortium history, structure, goals, and activities.

On 16 September, the Disarmament Fellows visited the EU Council to learn about the work of European Union in various international security areas. Amb. Marjolijn Van Deelen, Special Envoy for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, welcomed the Fellows and provided an overview of the European External Action Service’s history and role in helping implement the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy with regard to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation matters. Following Ambassador Van Deelen’s remarks, EEAS, European Council and European Commission experts from different committees and offices discussed with the Fellows a broad range of issues, including the EU’s work on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, conventional weapons controls, and space policy. The Fellows also were given the opportunity to visit the EU Council as well as the Europa Building, the main seat of the European Council and the Council of the EU where EU summits, multilateral summits and ministerial meetings are held.

During the discussions in Brussels, the Disarmament Fellows actively engaged in the substantive material presented by all the speakers asking acute and timely questions.

The VCDNP would like to extend its gratitude to the EEAS and EU Council for their generous support and cooperation in organizing this visit.