On April 24^th Ron Ton, Director of Clingendael Academy, signed a contract with the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute (BDI) to provide EU-skills trainings to around 700 Bulgarian civil servants.  Against the backdrop of the upcoming Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union, Clingendael will provide close to eighty skills trainings. The aim is clear: to strengthen Bulgaria’s influence in Europe.

A broader EU strategy

The Republic of Bulgaria is implementing a multi-year strategy to enhance the capacity of its civil service to participate in the decision-making process of the European Union. As part of this broader strategy, Clingendael has been selected to provide practical skills trainings to the body of Bulgarian public servants working to fulfill the responsibilities of Bulgaria to its EU membership.
 

At a festive signing ceremony at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ron Ton and Mrs. Tanya Mihaylova, Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, made their cooperation official in the presence of dignitaries including the Netherlands Ambassador to Bulgaria, Mr. Tom van Oorschot, Permanent Secretary of the Bulgarian MFA, Ms. Irena Parvanova, and  Director of the Good Governance Directorate at the Council of Ministers, Ms. Yana Docheva.

Building essential skills for effectiveness in the EU

Over the course of the next two years, the Clingendael team will provide the Bulgarian civil servants with training in:

• The negotiation and mediation skills needed to steer contentious legislation through council meetings and the subsequent EU legislative process.
• The conflict resolution and crisis management skills needed to diffuse potential points of discord, build stronger EU coalitions and coordinate more successfully with stakeholders.
• The communication and public speaking skills needed to present a clear message, especially in times of crisis when the pressure is mounting and Bulgaria’s reputation and credibility could be at stake.
• The knowledge and skills needed to interact effectively with the European External Action Service, to avoid working at cross-purposes and ensure that the EEAS can serve the interests of Bulgaria.

In executing the capacity building project, Clingendael Academy can draw on decades of experience of providing high-level EU trainings. In the past, we conducted trainings for the UK, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia in their preparations for their turn in the rotating presidency seat.

Your EU training provider

Boosting your skills to affect national policy is just one of the many reasons to learn to strengthen your own voice in Brussels.  At Clingendael Academy, we offer complete introductory and advanced-level EU trainings to help you make sense of Brussels’ internal workings.  Please contact us to see how we can set up a tailored training for your organisation.

In addition, we offer EU open registration courses, open to anyone who wishes to operate more effectively in Brussels.