Driven by their civic engagement and interest in European affairs, IEE-ULB students are the driving force behind the Institute’s student life. Two student associations play a key role: Eyes on Europe and SAIES (Students Association of the Institute for European Studies). The IEE also supports the ULB delegation participating in SPECQUE.

Eyes on Europe is a non-profit association (ASBL) founded in 2004 by students at the IEE-ULB. The association publishes a student magazine dedicated to European issues. It is published every semester and features bilingual content in French and English. It is accompanied by a website on which articles are published weekly. This publication is distributed at the ULB, within European institutions, and to think tanks and interest groups. The association also organises conferences and debates on European issues on campus.

Participation in the association and the magazine, particularly as an author, is open each year to around thirty students, whether or not they are enrolled with the IEE-ULB.

Discover the magazine

Students' Association of the Institute of European Studies (SAIES) was founded in 2015 by students of the IEE-ULB. Its aim is to provide a forum for reflection on contemporary European political issues. Its main role is to represent IEE-ULB students and to foster cohesion among students across all Master’s programmes in European Studies.

The association organises various socio-cultural events related to European studies, such as visits to institutions, conferences or more informal gatherings. It is also involved in IEE-ULB activities involving alumni.

The Simulation of the European Parliament Canada-Quebec-Europe, more commonly known by its acronym SPECQUE, is an international French-speaking simulation of the European Parliament. Founded in 1998 by students from Laval University (Quebec, Canada) to gain a better understanding of how European institutions work and the major challenges facing the European Union, SPECQUE is now the largest French-speaking simulation of the European Parliament in the world. It is held alternately each year in Canada and Europe; for example, the ULB hosted the 2025 edition.

Each year, a delegation of ULB students, whether or not they are enrolled in IEE-ULB programmes, takes part in this simulation. Several professors (Chloé Brière, Ramona Coman, Amandine Crespy, Paul Dermine and François Foret) act as academic mentors.


Joint student initiatives


The ‘Debates on the Future of Europe’ is an annual initiative organised jointly by the Institute of European Studies (IEE-ULB) and the Department of European Politics and Governance (POL) at the College of Europe in Bruges. They bring together students from both institutions to engage in critical reflection and dialogue on the main challenges facing the European Union.

During the meetings held in Bruges and Brussels in the autumn and spring, students jointly identify topics worthy of their attention and then prepare policy briefs in groups. Their recommendations are based on discussions with experts from European institutions and the ‘European bubble’.

SAIES is involved in selecting the students taking part in this initiative and in organising exchanges between students throughout the year.

For example, during the 2024–2025 academic year, the topics covered were:

  • «The Gender Digital Divide Affecting Migrant Women»
  • «How to make European elections more visible, accessible and representative to citizens?»
  • «What role for the EU in the attempt to revive a nuclear deal with Iran - prospects and take-aways from previous JCPOA»
  • «Rethinking the Concept of Safe Third Countries»
  • «Strengthening Small Farms through Local Value Chains and Regional Food Hubs».