A full program of activities and sessions at work brought together some thirty students of the Master's Degree in Political and Corporate Communication (MCPC) and the Global Advocacy Program of the George Washington University, from December 8 to 12. During the five days, they were able to gain in-depth knowledge of the main institutions of the European Union and the lobbying that takes place around them. Brussels is, after Washington, the city in the world with the largest number of people dedicated to this activity issue .

The functioning of the European Union'scommittee was explained both through a session with its Director of Communication, Cristina Gallach, and previously at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU thanks to Ambassador Nicolás Pascual de la Parte. The students were also able to learn in situ about the challenges of the new European Commission thanks to the sessions with members of the cabinets of the Commissioners for Trade, Miguel Ceballos, and for Climate Action and Energy, Gonzalo de Mendoza. At the European Parliament they were welcomed by Jaume Duch, director media relations, and talked with MEPs Pablo Zalba and Tanja Fajon; there was also an opportunity to discuss lobbying in the Parliament with David Simón-Santiñán, from Bell Pottinger.

Beyond the institutions, the program included visits to the U.S. Embassy, the American Chamber of Commerce, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and to various international public affairs consultancies such as Kreab Gavin Anderson, Fleishman Hillard and APCO, or company executives at position such as José Fonseca (Philip Morris) and Jonathan Vanherberghen (BASF). There was also room for specific sessions on lobbying by industry associations such as those for nuclear energy (Foratom) and generic medicines (EGMA), and by NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund. Matt Dann led a session on the role of a think tank such as Bruegel, of which he is University Secretary. Another panel discussion featured speakers Peter Spiegel and Miquel Roig, correspondents for the Financial Times and Expansión respectively.

On Tuesday 9th, as in the previous year, a dinner was held for MCPC students and alumni from School Communication, with great success. The good atmosphere in which the event took place led to a high Degree relationship between some of the older students and the new generations. The week concluded with a dinner between MCPC and George Washington students at a restaurant in the famous Grand Place. There, in addition to recalling the unforgettable moments of the week, we all agreed to meet in March in the U.S. capital, when the MCPC will move there to attend the Four-Week Program.