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After a long way home (read: Brussels) from EBM Krakow and just a few hours of sleep, on Monday morning Sorin and me went to the European Parliament, where one of our unofficial partner organisations EPSA (European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association) was organising their Annual Reception.
Although AEGEE and EPSA do not have any official cooperation, informally we have friendly relationship both on professional level (like giving them tips how to get a headoffice in Brussels) and private level (like partying together). Therefore it was definitely a pleasure to receive their invitation!
We should learn from EPSA in the future and host our receptions in the European Parliament as well, such a good idea! The reception was even opened by Dr. Ioannis Kasoulides, Member of the European Parliament and all of the participants were his official guests in EP that day.
I must admit – for non pharmaceutical students and those who are not working in the field of medicine some parts of the reception were not the most interesting and understandable ones as they were directly related to the industry and professional jargon (like patents, generies and counterfeits).
However, for AEGEE the most useful and interesting part was the networking cocktail after the official debates and sessions, when we could exchange opinions and thoughts not only with EPSA, but also ELSA, ESN and other guests. We talked not only about EPSA last visit in Riga, where they met AEGEE-Ogre people or about the need to go and see the ESN office (as so far we have seen just their house), but also about more important things – like sharing experience about European Voluntary Service (EVS), from which one of EPSA project should definitely benefit. As both AEGEE and EPSA General Assemblies are coming closer, we also shared our interest to go there and to invite them to Agora Leiden.
Thanks for the reception, EPSA!