Entering the Heart of Europe: Reflections on a Visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg

#August2025 Having the opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg, I gained a profound understanding of the unique operating principles of the EU as a supranational organization. The building itself is highly symbolic. The glass curtain wall design embodies transparency and openness, while the semi-circular chamber symbolizes equal exchange among all member states. During my visit, I learned that the European Parliament is not only the EU's legislative body but also a venue for the practice of its values. Members of Parliament, representing diverse nationalities and positions, collaborate through debate and negotiation to formulate policies that impact over 500 million Europeans. This spirit of cross-border cooperation is deeply inspiring. In addition, witnessing the multilingual simultaneous interpretation in action made me realize the importance of linguistic diversity in the EU. Despite the differences in languages, institutional design and technical support enable genuine communication and understanding. This visit not only deepened my understanding of the EU's operations but also led me to reflect on how, in today's globalized world, we can promote cross-border cooperation and consensus while upholding our national characteristics. The European Parliament in Strasbourg is a vivid symbol of this spirit.