It started yesterday with restricted access to professionals involved in international relations

The second edition of the course "Action in international and European organizations" started yesterday. It is jointly organized by DIPLOCAT and the Barcelona Institute of International Studies (IBEI), in collaboration with the Catalan Ministry of External Action and the EU and the School of Public Administration of Catalonia. This edition was opened by the minister of Foreign Affairs and the EU, Meritxell Serret; the president of the IBEI, Narcís Serra; and the secretary general of DIPLOCAT, Laura Foraster i Lloret. The course consists of 7 sessions, which will last until the end of November.

In her words of welcome, minister Meritxell Serret reaffirmed the Government's commitment to training and professionalisation in the field of external action. The secretary general of DIPLOCAT explained that the aim of the course is to understand how international and European bodies work in order to be able to gain influence. On behalf of IBEI, Narcís Serra defended the need to strengthen Catalonia's foreign relations in many areas and the fact that these relations are carried out in accordance with common and shared values.

The course "Action in international and European organizations" is a training with restricted access, which this year has 43 students. It is aimed at the staff of the public administrations of Catalonia and the member entities of DIPLOCAT. The course is specially designed to train professionals who have to act or have a relationship with international bodies, representing and defending their own interests with competence, efficiency and flexibility.

There will be sessions on the functioning of international organizations, cooperation instruments and decision-making, communication channels, influence mechanisms and ways of participation and dialogue. The teachers are university professors specializing in international relations and the European Union, and professionals who work in institutions in this field.

This year, the course puts more emphasis on the practical side and the presentation of good practice cases to understand the way these international organizations work and act. The objective is to encourage interaction with these entities and strengthen the capacity to negotiate and relate to them fluently.