European Union - Delegation of the European Union to Japan

European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP)
The International Leader Programme of the European Union

What is the EUVP?

The European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) invites young, promising leaders from countries outside the European Union on an individually tailored visit to Europe to gain a first-hand appreciation of the EU's goals, policies and people. It also serves to increase mutual understanding between professionals from non-EU countries and their EU counterparts. The unique tailoring of each programme to the participants' individual requests makes it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed.

The EUVP is jointly- sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission. An EUVP visit consists of an individual 5- to 8-day programme of meetings with EU officials at the EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and/or Luxembourg. The programme of meetings is arranged on the basis of the areas of interest expressed by the visitor so that it can be of maximum benefit. All individually tailored programmes are coordinated and arranged by the EUVP Secretariat. Travel and per diem costs are covered by the EUVP.

The programme has been in operation since 1974. It was originally designed as an invitation programme for citizens of the United States, but has expanded over the past 35 years to include many more countries. In 2009 alone, 205 participants from over 70 countries around the world visited the Institutions of the European Union in Brussels and Strasbourg. It was opened to Japan in 1984. About 200 Japanese participated in this programme for the past 25 years. For Japan, six candidates are chosen each year among young opinion-formers and multipliers i.e. young politicians, journalists specialising in foreign affairs, academics specialising in EU and international affairs, NGO and think-tank leaders.

Who is eligible to participate?

Those eligible to participate are government officials (local and national), journalists, trade unionists, educators, officials of non-profit, non-governmental organizations and other professionals aged in their mid-20s to mid-40s with career-related interests in the European Union. Business people or employees from the private sector are not eligible. Please note that the EUVP is not designed as a program for students: its participants are required to have completed their university education or equivalent training and to have been employed for several years in their chosen career field.

How are participants selected?

EUVP participants are selected by a committee chaired jointly by a Member of the European Parliament and a Member of the European Commission. The selection committee usually meets every July. Six visitors from Japan are selected each year. The total number of visitors worldwide is generally about 180.

Updated 2011.03.23