Responsibilities and Growth in Brussels

As far as cities with political power, Brussels is only second to Washington. The gray days do not dull the sheer number of things to do in the capital, especially when you are an intern in the European Parliament. Brussels Intern NGO estimates that 8,000 interns every year complete an internship in European Union institutions or the organizations that work with EU institutions. This spring semester, I have taken the place among those interns, working in the office of a Member of the European Parliament belonging to one of the largest parties in Parliament, the European People’s Party.

My name is Marley Whittle and I am a junior at Furman University. On track to obtain degrees in Political and International Affairs and Communication Studies, working as an intern with the European Parliament was the best internship for me. With prior experience in the service industry and on a political campaign, working in a MEP's office allowed me to build off of previously developed skills in a new, exciting environment.

As an intern for a MEP, I have been exposed to international events that will shape the course of history. I was present when the United Kingdom officially left the European Union, when Greta Thunberg delivered a speech critiquing the EU’s climate initiative, and when Turkish and EU relations began to deteriorate. These events have not only had a direct influence on the actions of the European Parliament but serve as real-life issues directly tied to topics, I have studied at Furman University.

Being an intern in a foreign institution can be a daunting endeavor. However, the best part about working in the European Parliament is sharing this experience with several other Furman and EPA students. Throughout my conversations with other students, I have learned the differences in structure and expectations between our offices. For example, at the beginning of our internships, my peer Kendall attended more parliamentary meetings about foreign affairs than I did. Through talking to her, I gained the courage to ask my boss if I could sit in on more meetings, explaining my interest in international affairs. In the moment, I was worried I was overstepping boundaries and would be sent back to my desk. Instead, this one conversation gave me a clear line of communication with my superior, while also opening the door for me to spend a larger portion of my time researching and reporting on issues relating to EU relations with the Middle East.

The European Parliament’s website explains that my MEP is on the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, meaning he needs to be up to date on current events in these regions. Researching, writing and attending meetings about these regions has become a major part of my internship. The morning CNN reported that Turkish President Erdogan violated the 2016 EU-Turkey Agreement by opening the door for thousands of migrants to enter the EU, I was the sole individual in my office responsible for learning the situation. Upon entering the office, I was asked to research the situation and have a briefing completed in three hours.

Once I finished researching, I compiled the information into a briefing and met with my boss and MEP to discuss the implications of Turkey’s actions. Research is an intrinsically hard task; it is easy to get discouraged when no one else appears to know what is going on either. However, the vast amount of research I have done has taught me to effectively communicate my ideas and analyze the work of others to gain a deeper understanding of international issues facing the EU.

In addition, I was able to research the issue through the lens of the European People’s Party, learning the Party’s outlook on Turkey and adjusting my briefing to this perspective.

In the afternoon, my boss sent me to a meeting where Members of Parliament and experts discussed civil and political issues in Turkey, a current candidate country for the EU, and the role the European Union plays in easing tensions and creating stability in that region. Many of the speakers were impassioned and speculating on different ways to ease relations between Turkey and the EU. These discussions are crucial since the United States has taken a step back in the region, bringing the EU into a new situation where it has the opportunity to play a larger, more active role. Being able to witness such an important discussion was a remarkable feeling, unmatched by any other experience in previous internships and classes.

My time in the European Parliament allows me to grow personally, but it also helped me to gain new skills in international policy and international communication—an experience that I did not previously have. Through the EPA program and my internship, I am gaining a better understanding of the European Union, forging a new network, and making new friends and references. But most importantly, I gained a new sense of professionalism and a clearer view of what it meant to be in the world of international affairs.