Westminster students establish new European Affairs Society

The aim of the new society will be to explore and promote the EU’s values, art and foreign policies across Westminster’s campuses within all fields of study, but with a particular focus on International Relations courses. It will serve as a forum to give Westminster students from across the globe an open platform where they can deepen their knowledge, make lifelong friendships, grow their professional networks, and explore the complex issues surrounding European affairs through a series of events, panel discussions and group meetings.

The idea for the creation of the society started when a group of Westminster MA students visited Europe House in London, where the delegation of the EU to the United Kingdom is based, and engaged with delegation members there. The EU delegation then approached Dr Magdalena Frennhoff Larsén, Assistant Head of School and Reader (Associate Professor) in Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster, with the idea of forming a society as part of a network of EU societies across UK universities. Students Anastasia Lydaki and Ziad Sharaf, who are now President and Vice-President of the society respectively, decided to spearhead the initiative, with an ambition for the society at Westminster to become a leading society in the network.

The society was officially launched on 9 May 2023 at Westminster’s Regent Campus, to coincide with Europe Day, which celebrates peace and unity in Europe. Speakers at the event included Giulio Venneri, Head of the Centre of Thematic Expertise (CoTE) on Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights and Democracy in the Directorate General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) at the European Commission, and Gianfranco Bochicchio, Policy Officer for the Democracy and Electoral Observation at the European External Action Service.

During the event, the society hosted a lively discussion on the significance of democracy and the role played by the EU in upholding this value. Westminster’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield also shared a few words on the importance of Europe Day and the role of the European Affairs Society in fostering a deeper understanding of European affairs among Westminster students. A series of thought-provoking European independent short films were also showcased at the launch in order to provide attendees with a unique artistic perspective on the European experience, and further enrich their understanding of the continent's diverse cultures and narratives.

Members of the European Affairs Society also attended a national gathering of European Affairs societies at University College London (UCL). The event was was chaired by UCL, the University of Westminster and King’s College London (KCL) and was attended by more than 28 society delegates from across the UK.

Speaking about the importance of the new European Affairs Society, Ziad, the Society’s Vice-President, said: “Enrolling in Dr Frennhoff Larsén’s class was a great way for me to get involved in diplomatic visits and form this society in my role as Vice-President. Despite starting my International Relations and Democratic Politics MA at Westminster directly after being involved in high-level bilateral meetings and communicating with diplomatic EU bodies in Egypt, such as the Embassy of Finland in Cairo, this experience has helped me to keep up momentum through my involvement in a different geopolitical environment in London.

“I believe that joining this society will help students to grow outside of their comfort zones, meet students from other universities and countries who are on the same journey but bring different perspectives, and identify what they are looking for in terms of career opportunities as they can gain insights on the ground and connect with professionals who might be aligned with their interests.”

Anastasia, President of the European Affairs Society, added: “As an EU citizen, I have always been drawn to the values, mission and vision of the EU whilst also having a growing interest in the UK’s vision post-Brexit. As an MA student studying Diplomacy and Global Politics, I strongly believe that it is very important to preserve the integration of European values in UK higher education institutions.

“Forming this society has helped me take a leadership role in an area outside of the EU and gain knowledge of the procedures taken within UK institutions in establishing such groups, which aligns with my career goals and aspirations to work in a field where I am able to influence policies for the betterment of the world.

“Our society is a safe and open platform for all students to interact, engage beyond their academic responsibilities and embrace and foster meaningful and unique connections and lifelong friendships.”

Find out more about Politics and International Relations courses at the University of Westminster.