This summer, I had the privilege of interning with the European Union Delegation to Canada in their Trade and Economic Section, for a period of 3 months. The Delegation, which is part of the European Union diplomatic service, has a similar role to an embassy in the way it represents the interests of the EU and EU citizens around the globe. It is the voice of the EU as a whole abroad and represents the natural contact point in Canada between the EU and Canada. It covers all policy areas of the bilateral relationship between the two partners and aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the European Union and EU-Canada relations in Canada. The Delegation is separated in 3 sections: the Trade and Economic section, in which I was placed in, the Public and Political Affairs section, where another McGill intern worked, and the Administration Section.
During my period at the Delegation, I contributed to keeping the European Union aware of significant political and economic developments in Canada, supported the work of the Trade and Economic Section and participated in public diplomacy activities, aimed at keeping Canadians up to date on current developments in the European Union.
I would start every day by preparing a press review in collaboration with my fellow McGill intern, which we would present to the Delegation first thing in the morning before sending it out to the EU headquarters in Brussels and to the various EU Member States embassies in Canada. My other tasks varied immensely, from doing research and drafting documents on specific topics relevant to my section, writing briefing notes, attending meetings and drafting minutes, summarizing reports, preparing speaking points for meetings, helping in the preparation of events to simply helping members of my section with specific files they were working on or with their preparation for meetings.
I really loved being able to sit in on high level meetings and observe firsthand the work of diplomats. Even in moments where I did not have a specific task attributed to me, observing and learning from the people I interacted with were incredibly valuable opportunities. Another valuable aspect was the diverse range of tasks attributed to me and the immense variety of files under the EU Delegation Trade and Economic section that I could contribute to, like CETA implementation, climate, natural resources, energy, AI, trade policies, trade data analysis, and others. This gave me a wide array of subjects to touch upon, allowed me to experience different aspects of international relations, and allowed me some leeway in determining which topics I wanted to research in-depth to provide valuable resources for members of my section. For instance, I researched the current possibilities and feasibility of hydrogen exports from Canada to the EU, and made a comprehensive analysis of current AI regulation. Continually learning about new aspects of the relationship between the EU and Canada, two important like-minded partners, kept me engaged and interested throughout the internship. Writing speaking points and contributing to briefing notes for missions and important meetings was something I found most rewarding, as this allowed me to put forth my own analysis of situations and of how best to advance the EU's interests and defend its positions.
Throughout my internship, I developed my analytical and communication skills, both in writing and public speaking, from producing various documents and interacting with people in different contexts. I grew in my ability to work collaboratively within a diverse team, in rapidly changing situations. I believe the exposure I had to the daily operations of the Delegation and to diplomatic meetings and discussions allowed me to have a deeper understanding of international relations and trade negotiations, and a real, rather than idealized, perception of it, something crucial in determining what I want for my career. One of the things most useful to me during the internship was my ability to assimilate information and grasp concepts quickly to efficiently respond to demands and offer support to members of the Delegation. Understanding the broad mandate of the European Union Delegation and the relevance of Canadian events to the EU indeed required a lot of reading and rapid adaptation, and being able to do this quickly and work efficiently was a helpful and valued competence.
I feel lucky to have experienced this opportunity alongside a fellow McGill student intern, the lovely Sabrina, something which made the experience especially enjoyable and less daunting. I extend my sincere gratitude to André von Walter, Head of the Trade and Economic Section, my colleagues, and the entire delegation for their guidance, support, and mentorship throughout my time in Ottawa. I would also like to thank the AIO and the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Opportunities Support Fund for its support in making this internship possible.
