Welcome!
blue&yellow is a platform by students for students. Here you will be able to find information on EU initiatives and legislation, as well as current European ‘hot topics’ and career insights. With its two knowledge pillars, career development and the EU, this project raises awareness while benefitting the student community as a whole.
Know Your Union
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.
Following up on the first article on the New European Commission, this piece will take a closer look at the Commissioner hearings that the European Parliament conducted in order to “investigate” the potential candidates for the New Commission. This way MEPs ensure that the candidates are fit for the job and, at the same time, that MEPs have some influence in the selection process of the Commissioners, who will then be responsible for drafting laws and setting the political agenda. However, whether the persons who are nominated for the job are actually suitable might be a secondary criterion. Strategic decisions and party politics play an important role too. In order to perform well in the hearings, the candidates have to study the entire EU legislative acquis in one month, they can get used to the process by engaging in mock hearings (although most of the nominees don’t do that, which might be a question of ego, since these mock hearings are conducted by their staff), and they have to practice a fair amount of lobbying with the MEPs. But which were the most interesting hearings?
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.
Finding a team that works well together and is fit for the job is always a big challenge. But if one has to take into account preferences of third parties and the political messages attached to the team’s selection, it gets even messier. However, this is the task that European Commission President (of the current as well as the new Commission) Ursula von der Leyen had to manage when nominating her new team of Commissioners. But let’s start from the beginning.
By Tillie Morris, 6 minutes.
The re-election of the pro-European Prime Minister in Poland, Donald Tusk, stirs questions about whether the alliance between Poland, Germany, and France will be the stronghold for Europe’s future.
By Federico Fo, 6 minutes.
Maastricht set the stage for the 2024 Elections for the European Parliament. Eight Spitzenkandidaten have started their election campaigns for their European parties and faced off in a fierce debate. All eyes lie on the current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking re-election for another five year term. Yet, candidates from the far left to the far right were convinced that they can halt her quest and swing the vote in their favour.
By Carlo Civitarese, 12 minutes.
Maastricht set the stage for the 2024 Elections for the European Parliament. Eight Spitzenkandidaten have started their election campaigns for their European parties and faced off in a fierce debate. All eyes lie on the current Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking re-election for another five year term. Yet, candidates from the far left to the far right were convinced that they can halt her quest and swing the vote in their favour. Heated Topics on Foreign and Defence Policy, EU Democracy and Climate Change will decide who will lead Europe in this time of instability and change.
By Tillie Morris and Carlo Citivarese, 8 minutes
Organised by Politico, the Maastricht debate was held on the 29th of April, and they invited seven candidates who are running for the position of European Commission president. The candidates had the opportunity to share their positions on three topics, climate change, foreign and security policy, and EU democracy chosen by young people through a Maastricht University survey. A focus of the event was to include young people in EU politics, which was evident as many student and youth-oriented associations, such as ECA, the European Youth Parliament and Studio Europa were invited to the event.
By Nora Fotini El-Awdan, 8 minutes.
On Monday, April 29, 2024, the lead candidates (“Spitzenkandidat:innen”) of eight European parties faced-off against each other at the “Maastricht Debate 2024.” The contenders presented and defended their respective visions for the future of Europe ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. The key topics of the debate were selected by Europe’s youth based on a survey conducted by Maastricht University: (1) Climate change, (2) Foreign and Security policy and (3) EU Democracy.
By Sarah Hourquet (MD) & Nurbolat Kambekov (B&Y), 7 minutes.
This article is the first in our collaboration with the Blue & Yellow, the blog of the European Career's Association. We will publish a few different pieces through various media on the upcoming European Parliament Elections happening from 6 to 9 of June 2024. So, keep a look out for this and don't forget to go vote! As this is a collaboration, two writers, one of each journal, have written this piece together.
By Kristoffer Sætre, 7 minutes.
The EU is currently sending a lot of weapons to Ukraine. But wait, aren’t member states such as Austria, Ireland and Malta neutral? Are neutral states allowed to send military aid to states in war? Read this article to answer these questions and find out more about neutrality under international law and its relevance for EU member states.
By Nora Fotini El-Awdan, 8 minutes.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the ECA set off on a two-day study trip to Brussels. It turned out to be a great mix of institution and media visits, networking events, and presentations. We participants returned with a backpack full of new knowledge on career opportunities. Here an overview of the highlights, main takeaways, and a list of links to start off your career in the European Union (EU).
By Jan Herniczek, 5 minutes. The ongoing war in Ukraine has already dramatically changed our world. Finland and Sweden decided to break their decades-old neutrality and join NATO. But why were they neutral in the first place? And what do the Turkish election have to do with NATO membership?
By Eleonora Pizzini, 7 minutes. Working in or for one of the European Institutions implies, in practice, a very good knowledge of at least two foreign languages. Despite 24 official ones, the so-called procedural languages are just three: English, French and German. How important is it to know at least two of them? And why over time many doubts and malcontent have risen across the choice of these three languages?
By Aari Helmelaid, 7 minutes. In December 2022, shocking revelations of corruption and acceptance of bribes from Qatar and other third countries in the European Parliament came to light, involving some of Europe’s top and former politicians like Eva Kaili and Antonio Panzeri. Since then, various suggestions have been debated to rebuild its reputation and reform the European Parliament to become a transparent and corruption-free institution, ranging from prohibiting unofficial friendships with third countries, to creating a whole new EU body specifically responsible for ensuring internal institutional ethics. Read the article to find out the main actors, the hidden criminal networks, and what the future might look like for the European parliament.
By Clara Pastor Hernández, 10 minutes. Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) are individuals or organisations who seek the promotion and protection of civil and political rights as well as the promotion, protection and realisation of economic, social and cultural rights. However, despite their huge efforts towards development and the improvement of living conditions, they are being systematically attacked and silenced through violence in countries with high rates of violence, corruption or autocratic regimes. This article examines the role of the EU as regards the protection of HRDs, and more particularly, it presents Protect Defenders, an EU-funded mechanism coordinated by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) offering protection and support to HRDs and raising awareness about this topic.
Sara Saccon, 5 minutes. Every 18 months a group of three member states of the Union holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union, one of the most important European institutions. The trio composed of France, Czech Republic, and Sweden is coming to an end, as Sweden’s mandate will terminate on the 30th of June. What challenges have the three presidencies encountered during the past year and a half? How have they dealt with them? And, most importantly, what now? Read our article to learn more!
By Aari Helmelaid, 11 minutes. So you’ve looked at your own Spotify Wrapped for 2022, but have you thought about which countries in Europe held elections in the last year? Read the article to find out about major elections that changed European politics.
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 9 minutes. The DiscoverEU Interrail Scholarship has been made available to everyone by the EU for several years. 60,000 young people are able to traverse the European continent for free thanks to this initiative's free rail passes. Read more about the Interrail scholarship program, which enables you to visit Europe for free with DiscoverEU in this article!
By Nurbolat Kambekov, 3 minutes. In the age of accelerated technological growth, many governments across the world are concerned about their levels of innovation. Fortunately, the EU is pioneering trend-setting policies to address such challenges. Learn more about the EU’s technological initiative discussed in our recent article.
By Aari Helmelaid, 6 minutes. The European Ombudsman occupies a unique position as an independent supervisor between the EU institutions and European citizens. The contribution made by the European Ombudsman to transforming the administrative practices and pressuring European institutions, bodies, and agencies into better conduct cannot be underestimated, read the article to find out more of the role that the European Ombudsman plays in the EU world…
By Aydin Clara Orberk, 13 minutes. Are you familiar with the court structure and access to courts in the EU? With the creation of the EU and the recent Charter of Fundamentals rights of the EU, individuals may seek access for infringements to their rights not only before national courts, but also before the European Court of Justice. This article covers access conditions to European courts, firstly, and exemplifies the access conditions by introducing climate litigation cases, secondly.
By Leonie Klüver, 6 minutes. Lobbying - what exactly does it mean and how does it tie into the political system? Why is it crucial for the legislative process and a valuable aspect of a democratic political system? Read the article to find out the answers! Within the last two centuries lobbying has become an essential part of politics. In Europe, Brussels is the major hub for lobbying with 11,800 registered lobbying entities.
By Lucrezia Nicosia, 6 minutes. The European Union today consists of 27 Member States and it is the result of a continuous process of growth that occurred through the accession of new states. To become a member of the EU, a state must not only fulfil a list of formal requirements but must also align itself to the Union standards through a long process of negotiations. All this considered, which country/ies are the most advanced in the procedure? Why is Turkey taking so long to gain access to the EU?
By Aari Helmelaid, 6 minutes. The ability of citizens to vote is key for the functioning of a democratic society. Citizens of the EU are given substantial voting rights but the mere right of suffrage has proven insufficient to combat the lack of interest in elections at both the national and the supranational level and the decrease in democratic participation. This begs the question, what is the EU doing to increase democratic participation?
By Leonie Klüver, 9 minutes. Russia's invasion of Ukraine drastically changed the peaceful liberal democratic interaction and existence of European states. It forced the EU to implement economic sanctions to weaken the Russian economy and ultimately curtail Russia's ability to wage war. To show solidarity with Ukraine, the EU provided billions of euros in funds to EU member states and Ukraine to prevent a humanitarian crisis and provide basic human needs to the fleeing Ukrainians. Read this article to see what the EU can actually do in the context of war in Ukraine.
by Jeanne Gallien, 6 minutes. Since January 1st and for six months, France has taken over the rotating presidency of the Council. Together with the Czech Republic, Sweden, the trio will play an important role in making Europe more sovereign, more human and in creating a new European reference for the rest of the world.
By Lucrezia Nicosia, 5,5 minutes. The Europol and the Eurojust signed a contribution agreement for the expansion of their cooperation in the SIRIUS project, which aims to help investigations with cross-border access to electronic evidence by providing services and developing tools available to EU law enforcement and judicial authorities. The internet is a complex and vast world and a lot of expertise is required to fight online crimes and investigate online evidence: is this the reason why the Member States are so willing to rely on the help of the European Union? Has this new perception of crime changed something on how the Member States relating to the EU when dealing with criminal matters?
By Eliza Wójcik, 5,5 minutes. Conference on the Future of Europe is one of a kind event happening in the EU right now. It is a series of debates and discussions led by citizens aiming to enable all Europeans to share their ideas and help in shaping a common European future, per the European Commission’s website. The Conference started with a proposal in 2019 and will last for 2 years. The Conference has its own website which can be viewed in multiple languages.
By Paula Nörr, 6 minutes. Have you already heard about the latest EU-body, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), that started its operations only a few days ago, on 1 June 2021? You may know about existing EU bodies such as Eurojust, Europol, or OLAF, that also intends to protect the Union’s budget against fraud and corruption. But the EPPO is the first supranational EU body in charge of criminal investigations and prosecutions in this regard. If you want to know why exactly the EPPO is a “real game-changer”, keep reading and learn more about its mission, structure, and functioning!
By Marina Veljkovic, 4 minutes. Are you curious about how the European Union and its Member States are battling the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic? Would you like to know more about the Union’s plans on developing and ensuring the EU countries’ resilience and sustainability in the years to come? Then keep reading!
By Wiktoria Nadolna, 7 minutes. We all want to save the planet to protect future generations, but we often get lost in the process. The European Commission has created a plan to approach sustainable transformation in a successive manner. In this article, we are introducing to you The European Green Deal.
Zooming In
by: Jolanka Kocianova Vuong
Reading time 7 mins 20 sec
When writing Part 1 of the article, I did not place on a second article on the political climate in Slovakia. Unfortunately, the situation in Slovakia has not calmed down. It seems that things have further spiralled out of control. Slovakia experienced a coalition crisis at the beginning of the year, causing the parliament to be suspended for months, only to be solved by possible hidden bribery. Once the crisis was solved, the government was free to go on in its typical style: mismanaging an epidemic, assuring Russia of Slovakia’s support, bringing Slovakia’s cultural institutions to the verge of collapsing, and most recently building villas out of Eurofonds. The list goes on and on. Read on to find out more.
By Kristoffer Saetre and Agnese Porro
Reading time: 4:30 min
“The era of the peace dividend is long gone. (...) Europe is ready to step up.” With these words, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the Commission’s White Paper on European Defence. In a paradigm shift, the EU responds to evolving threats in the contemporary European security environment.
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading Time: 3 minutes
Stunning, remarkable, historic…those are just some of the words used to describe the recent election results in Australia on the third of May. Against the odds, the Australian Labor Party won a second term for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in what is widely seen as a repudiation of US President Donald Trump and his ideological partners in Australia. However, can Trump alone be blamed (or thanked?) for the result?
By Gabriel Panza, 2 Minutes 30 seconds
Imagine waking up ready to start your day, only to be plunged into darkness without any warning. On April 28th, this alarming scenario became a reality for millions across Spain, Portugal, France, and even Belgium. This event left residents and businesses across the Iberian Peninsula scrambling, raising questions about the resilience of Europe’s energy grid and the threats lurking beneath modern power networks.
Author: Miruna-Antonia Aniculăesei
Read time: 3:28
Since 1974, the European Union, formerly known as the European Communities, has been conducting the Standard Eurobarometer survey as a way to spread information about the organisation itself and gather support, as well as as a method of measuring the public level of satisfaction towards the EU. For almost 51 years, the Eurobarometer has shown the EU publics’ overall opinion on a diverse selection of EU matters and the way in which these opinions shift in response to crises After a turbulent period of crises, one would expect a decrease in public support for the Union, but what do the public opinion polls actually tell us about citizens’ reactions?
By: Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 6 minutes
On Monday, April 28, Canada elected a new Prime Minister after the former leader, Justin Trudeau, resigned as leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister in January. The new Prime Minister is Mark Carney, who already took over after Trudeau’s early resignation. Carney’s main campaign promises were to cut taxes for the middle class and to remove trade barriers between the provinces.
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 4 minutes.
When Former Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström announced in 2014 that Sweden would adopt a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), she and Sweden as a country pioneered a feminist lens into foreign policymaking. This approach has often been ridiculed and not taken seriously, as foreign policy is regularly considered gender-neutral. In particular, it is perceived as “soft” and unable to counter crises and aggression. But is this true? What can FFP do, and who benefits from it? This article aims to dive deeper into the concept and the meaning of FFP, as a follow-up on my previous piece on the uncertain future of Feminist Foreign Policy in Germany.
By Margaux Baudry, read 3 min
On May 7th, 2025, the thick wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel will once again close behind 133 Catholic cardinals- the electors tasked with choosing the next Pope. But this time, the air is less incense and more tense. Following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on April 21st, the Church faces one of its most unpredictable and fractured conclaves in modern history. With more electors, deeper ideological divisions, and an increasingly globalized Church, this isn’t just about white smoke- it’s about what kind of Church emerges from the ashes.
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading Time: ca. 4 minutes
With so many other crises dominating the EU’s agenda, the issue of climate action is much less prominent in the news compared to 6 years ago. But is this development also true for the EU’s actions to combat climate change, or are we just not hearing about it?
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 4 minutes.
The AfD was the second-largest party in the recent German national elections (20.8% of the vote) and formed the strongest political group in East Germany. It has 15 members in the European Parliament and is even too radical for French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Moreover, the party has been linked to the far-right scene meeting in Potsdam on “remigration”, several scandals about foreign influence from Russia and China (take Maximilian Krah as an example), and recurring instances of trivialising the holocaust and the Nazi regime. Now Germany’s domestic intelligence service has officially classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist group. But why has this classification taken so long, and what does it mean for the party and German politics?
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 4 minutes.
Following the German elections in February, the CDU (Christian Democratic Union), its Bavarian sister party CSU (Christian Social Union), and the SPD (Social Democratic Party) have now agreed to form a coalition, the so-called GroKo (Grand Coalition). This agreement is a success, considering the months of uncertainty and stagnation under Scholz’s minority government. Before the new government can take office, the SPD’s membership has to approve the agreement and a CDU convention has to be held. In the meantime, names of potential candidates for the ministries are already being discussed. The Foreign Ministry will be filled by the CDU, with three potential male candidates for this post. Considering Germany’s Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), adopted by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (The Greens), the question arises of what will happen to this policy approach, as an ideological shift to the right took place in the government, materialising also in the Federal Foreign Office.
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.
Do you remember the last time you wore a mask to protect yourself and your loved ones from an unknown virus? The rapid test before meeting your grandparents? The wait for access to a vaccine? These issues feel like they are from a different time. Today, current debates and concerns deal among many with Russia’s war against Ukraine, Trump’s unpredictable and ruthless politics, and the volatility of the world economy. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic made one thing very clear: a worldwide health crisis poses severe challenges and risks to our societies. The previous article on the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath discussed to what extent we are still affected today by the consequences of the pandemic. This blog post takes a closer look at the European Union (EU)’s preparedness for future health crises, finally asking whether the EU could deal with another future pandemic.
From: Jolanka Kocianova Vuong
Reading Time: 3 minutes 16 seconds
As a Commission President, Ursula Von Der Leyen is used to being at the center of attention. Whether during the first Trump administration, Climate Change, COVID, or the war in Ukraine, Von Der Leyen has always been the person to look up to for the EU to deliver solutions. Yet, this spotlight shines even brighter in the light of Trump's 20% Tariffs challenging the consequential implementation of the Green Deal. What are Von Der Leyen’s plans and how will it affect Europe? Read here to find out more.
By: Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 5 minutes
In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland, the world’s largest island has recently become one of the central topics in global media discourse. But what makes Greenland so unique and how did the island become what it is today?
By Gabriel Panza
Read time: 4 Minutes 15 Seconds
Starting a business in Europe can be a challenging venture, with numerous economic, social and political factors to consider. To find a prime location for business, aspiring entrepreneurs must explore diverse economies, innovative ecosystems, and supportive government frameworks. This article will explore five of the best EU countries for launching your business, noting each country’s unique advantages and business-friendly foundations. Whether you’re an experienced businessman or a first-time entrepreneur, understanding the benefits of these countries can aid in making a well-informed decision about where to start your successful business. Join us as we guide you through Europe’s top destinations for making your business dreams a reality!
By: Lavinia Tacke
Reading time: 4:40 minutes
In January a European spyware scandal flooded the international media. The phones of “around 90 activists and journalists across Europe” were spied on with the use of the software of the Israeli company Paragon Solutions. According to the European Correspondent, the software can “read messages, record calls, track location and exfiltrate data from mobile devices”.
by: Jolanka Kocianová Vuong
reading time: 5 minutes, 2 seconds
International aid is under attack! The two most prominent aid organizations in the world, USAID and UK Aid are reducing their spending dramatically, with severe consequences all over the world. It seems as if there is a new policy orientation in the world: down with international aid - let's invest in defence! Here, the recently introduced UK Spending Policy illustrates how funding for the country's armed forces comes at the cost of other important areas, most notably humanitarian support. This development gives rise to a few vital questions: What is the future of international aid? Is the EU going to step into the vacuum to substitute Member State spending, or are China and Russia going to use this opportunity to gain soft power in countries depending on foreign aid? Most importantly, are financial aid and defence spending mutually exclusive?
by Margaux Baudry, read 2 min 20
After a nine-week trial, Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling a total of 4.5€ million in EU parliamentary funds. From 2004 to 2016, the party she led, Rassemblement National (National Rally), created fake work contracts for individuals with no connection to the European Parliament, using taxpayers’ money to enrich the party. This judgment is not without impact on Le Pen’s career as it bans her from running for office for the next five years. She claimed her conviction was a “political decision” and went on to call it a “witch hunt”. But is this really an unfair punishment—or simply justice finally being served?
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading Time: 5 mins
In an unexpected course reversal, Germany’s expected next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, pushed new spending rules through parliament. While these changes have broad support, Merz now faces questions about his credibility and whether these financial changes will be effective.
Author: Miruna-Antonia Aniculăesei
Reading time: 2.20
“Security, Europe!” is the slogan of the new Presidency of the Council of the European Union, taken over by Poland after Hungary's quite a controversial term. In comparison to the Hungarian Presidency, which failed to properly sanction Russia, the Polish representatives shaped their programme around the issue of security in the current tense geopolitical context.
By Margaux Baudry
If you feel like the EU enlargement has been stagnating for the past couple of years, it is because it has. Indeed, the last time the number of EU member states changed was when the UK withdrew in 2020. Before that, it was when Croatia joined the club in 2013. Enlargement is a natural phase of the process of European integration: the EU has been enlarging since its origin, and its expansion, for many, is considered one of the Union’s great successes.. Currently, seven states have been granted candidacy for the EU: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and, last but not least, Ukraine. So, why is the process of enlargement at a standstill?
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.
Lockdowns, masks, vaccination, distance, online… These are all words we associate with the COVID-19 pandemic and they feel like echoes of a distant past. When the Coronavirus hit the world and spread fast, it caused a pandemic and led to millions of deaths, numerous shocks to economies and health care systems around the world, and much more. The pandemic started five years ago and at that time, several countries had imposed lockdowns on their population. Nowadays, it seems like the virus has been defeated and everything went “back to normal”. But this can be misleading and in the following, it will be explained why. Additionally, it is worth examining to what extent the European Union (EU) has learnt from the global crisis and whether it would be prepared for a similar shock in the future. This will be discussed in a follow-up article.
by Margaux Baudry, read 3 min
Not so long ago, far-right politicians were easy to spot in the wild. They were mostly older, wealthy white men, much like their supporters. But nowadays, as it turns out, diversity is trendy even for far-right parties. We can wave goodbye to typical far-right leaders, as one-size-fits-all is completely out of style. Today, far-right parties are more inclusive than you would expect them to be… Here is the new look of the far-right!
By Federico Fo
Javier Milei, the Argentinian president elected in November of 2023, is well-known around the world for his controversial positions regarding the treatment of national economies, as well as for his political position, which strongly supports a libertarian political and economic system. Such a position may also be referred to as a type of anarcho-capitalism, that opposes any kind of State intervention in the economy. Argentina’s economy is known worldwide for its economic fragility. In response, Milei pledged at the beginning of his mandate to particularly focus on the structural problems of the Argentinian economy, promising to do so through the application of his political and economic beliefs. Argentina has thus become a prominent laboratory for economic and political experiments, attracting attention in the international political environment. In this article, we will explore what Milei has accomplished so far.
by Jolanka Kocianová Vuong
reading time: 6 mins 24 seconds
Populism is on the rise! It seems this statement has been repeated quite often these days. Politicians such as Trump, Meloni, and Orban all represent extreme positions and controversial policies suited to populist ideals. However, another lesser-known populist politician is Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia. In Slovakia, democracy is under threat on a scale not seen since the 1990s—ranging from assassination attempts to coup allegations, the undermining of the executive branch and attacking the opposition. Fico is evolving into Orban 2.0, drawing scrutiny from the European Union. Yet, this situation has not been widely reported in the news. So what is happening in Slovakia, and how is it threatening the democratic order in Europe?
Read Time: 2 Minutes
By Gabriel Panza
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a pressing issue, attracting urgent international security intervention, particularly from the European Union. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that “the ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope” but emphasized that the “humanitarian situation remains grim in Gaza.”
Kristoffer Saetre Reading time: 3:30 min
Norway has recently been shaken by a governmental crisis. Legislation regulating the energy market has caused a break between the social democratic party (AP) and the center party (Senterpartiet). Interestingly, the legislation in question is EU legislation as part of the energy market package revision from 2024. But wait, why does Norway, a non-EU state, implement EU legislation? What is going on here? This crisis allows us to reflect on Norway’s relationship with the EU and can help us explain why EU energy prices have resulted in a minority government, even though the Norwegian people voted twice against EU accession.
By Lavinia Tacke, 3 minutes.
The gender pay gap –everybody has heard about it, but what is the current situation in the EU? What is being done to reduce the gap and how does it vary across member states?
by: Jolanka Kocianová Vuong
reading time: 3:40 minutes
Extreme weather events have taken news broadcasters by storm! Whether it’s the LA fire, Hurricanes Milton and Helene, or the flooding of Valencia, the trend suggests that these natural disasters will only increase in the coming years. Yet, with all eyes on headlines full of Trump, the extreme right in Europe, or armed conflicts, it seems as if recently the debate about climate change has been relegated to the background. While News agencies should cover a wide array of topics, it is alarming to see that climate change issues only make the news if politicians deny global warming and withdraw from international climate treaties. So why is no one speaking about Climate Change anymore and why does it matter?
By Dori Felber, Read: 2 minutes 46 seconds
Just months after the tragic abuse suffered by Gisèle Pelicot came to light, a former French surgeon, Joel Le Scouarnec, has been accused of raping or sexually abusing 299 victims between 1989 and 2014, making it France’s largest-ever child abuse case.
Career Insight
Author: Dori Felber
Read time: 6 minutes
Michele Coniglio is a junior indirect tax accountant at KPMG Luxembourg. He has been passionate about numbers since high school and has studied accounting since he was 15.
By Reka Felber and Nefeli Gkaroutsou
Read: 8 min 56 seconds
By Reka Felber and Nefeli Gkaroutsou
Read: 11 min
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 5 min. One of our blog members had the opportunity to interview the Member of the European Parliament, Iban García del Blanco. He is part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament. He is a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and of the delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. Moreover, he also takes part in the Committee on Culture and Education. If you are interested in AI, the legal process in the EP, or you have a simple curiosity about the daily tasks of an MEP, read this fantastic article.
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 10 minutes. Have you ever heard about the traineeship in the Committee of Regions (CoR)? Check out Beatriz´s interview with José Grande Santalla, a current trainee in communication in the CoR for the region of Galicia. In the interview, José gave us an overview of his work life and experience applying for this type of internship.
By Petra Simpalean, 7 minutes. Are you considering applying for a job at one of the EU institutions? If so, you will be required to take a European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) test. EPSO tests are the most important part of the selection process, as without them, you cannot work in any EU institution. By reading this article, you will find out exactly what these tests entail, tips and tricks that will help you pass them, and much more. Start reading and be a step closer towards accomplishing your goals and working for the EU!
By Aari Helmelaid, 16 minutes. ECA holds a wide network of alumni studying or working in different cities and in a variety of public and private sector companies and institutions. Many reside in Brussels, one of whom is former ECA President Max Griera. Blue&yellow writer Aari recently had the opportunity to interview him for our career Insights section. In this article, Max shares his memories of ECA, his journey on becoming a journalist, insights into working in the Brussels bubble, and valuable tips to help you land a job after your studies.
By Eleonora Pizzini, 8 minutes. The European Solidarity Corps is one of the several opportunities that the European Union offers to young people. It is an international volunteering programme thanks to which young Europeans can work and volunteer in non-profit causes. Taking part in one of the projects gives you additional skills and assets rarely acquirable in normal traineeships. In this article we interviewed a peer who participated in a project in Ukraine before the start of the war. He will talk about his experience and provide first hand insight on the programme and some few reasons why you should consider doing this experience.
By Sofia Bertolaja, 8 minutes. Have you ever thought about doing a traineeship at the EU Council? Check out Sofia’s article to read her interview with Jakub Rurarz, one of the founders of ECA and a current trainee at the Council.
By Federico Durante, 8 minutes. Most universities in Europe give bachelor's and master’s students the possibility, either for a semester or an entire year, to choose how to acquire more experience and deeper knowledge about the topic they have been studying. Generally, this possibility comes under three forms: an exchange programme, an internship, or a minor programme. If you want to know more about them and learn directly from ADS Insight, a consultancy operating in Brussels, Germany, Poland, France and Sweden and a partner of ECA, check the article!
By Leonie Klüver, 7 minutes. Ever wanted to go abroad for an internship? Are you interested in experiencing the EU firsthand without having to move to Brussels? Do foreign policy and diplomacy excite you? Then you should consider applying for a traineeship at the European External Action Service (EEAS).
by Eliza Wójcik, 3 minutes. Politico’s EU studies & Career Fair is an annual meeting of the world’s top universities and organisations aiming to connect with the best international students and young people interested in pursuing a future in the EU. Read the article to learn how to register and what are the benefits of attending the Fair!
by Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 6,5 minutes. Have you ever wondered if you can conduct a traineeship at one of the European Agencies? If yes, did you feel a bit lost comparing all the complex requirements? Check out this article to read a clear, concise and very helpful comparison of EU Agencies’ traineeships with all the requirements.
By Leonie Klüver, 5,5 minutes. Do you want to experience how legislation is debated, how EU laws are passed, how the most democratic EU body works daily, and how internal committees operate? Then a traineeship at the European Parliament is very likely an interesting option to kick start your career in the EU. There are two different types of traineeships at the European Parliament. The first one is at the Secretariat which is called the Schuman Traineeship. The other possibility is to conduct a Traineeship with a Member of the European Parliament. As application processes and the task differ fundamentally both traineeships are compared in more detail below.
By Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 6 minutes. Twice a year the EU Commission welcomes about 650 new trainees. But how do you become a trainee and what are the requirements? There are several requirements that one needs to fulfill such as speaking two official languages of the EU. If you are eligible and if you can stand out among the thousands of other applicants you will become one of the next trainees at the Commission. If you would like to know more about the application process, the requirements and how the traineeship looks like, continue reading this article!
By Eliza Wójcik, 10 minutes. Brussels and Luxembourg are the first places that come to mind while talking about work in the EU. Have you ever wondered what living there actually looks like? Are you curious about the comparison of those two? I have all the answers to your questions! Read the article to find out more about daily life, multiculturalism and other characteristics of Brussels and Luxembourg.
By Paula Nörr, 8 minutes. Have you ever talked to an employee of the Council of Europe? No? Well, we did for you! For our Career Insight section, we interviewed a former trainee and employee of the Council of Europe. If you want to know how our interviewee made her way from an audit firm to the Council of Europe and what her job experience there looked like in Covid times, you should continue reading. The interviewee did not only give us informative insights in her career but also helpful tips and recommendations on how to approach job search to finally get hold of a job in a European institution.
By Max Griera, 3 minutes. Sooner or later, everyone has to write a CV. Whether you are familiar or not with this task, here we present you 14 points to help you level up your CV.
Legislation Up Close
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 5 minutes.
In July 2019, an 18-year-old British woman went to the Cypriot police, and told them, that she had been raped by a group of 12 Israeli men in Ayia Nap. The Cypriot authorities questioned her for hours without legal assistance, which subsequently led her to withdraw these allegations. The woman later stated that she was pressured to comply and had to sign a waiver, which was drafted by Cypriot detectives. In the following proceedings, the Cypriot authorities found her guilty of lying about the gang rape attack, convicted her of causing public mischief, and issued a suspended sentence of four months. With the help of the human rights group Justice Abroad, the woman appealed to the Court of final instance, the Supreme Court of Cyprus, which overturned the verdict. It found that the woman did not receive a fair trial. The authorities, however, never admitted to any wrongdoings. This case caused outrage among women’s rights activists, who argued that the woman was treated as the offender rather than the victim.
By Anni Rissanen. Read: 1 min 54 s
The European Commission has decided to withdraw a key proposal that would have made it easier to hold companies accountable for AI-related harm. Some say it is a win for innovation, while others warn it creates a legal mess. What happens next for AI regulation in Europe?
Gisele Pélicot is a survivor of a series of rape, orchestrated by her husband Dominique Pélicot. Over a period of 9 years (July 2011 to October 2020) Gisele Pélicot was repeatedly raped by her husband and individuals who he would invite, whilst she was drugged and unconscious. In total, Gisele Pélicot was raped 92 times by 72 men, as her husband filmed the abuse. These horrific acts came to light when Dominique Pélicot was arrested by the police for taking upskirt photographs of women in supermarkets. The police discovered thousands of images and videos that Pélicot had taken of the rapes and stored on his computing equipment. Pélicot is further accused of training Jean-Pierre Maréchal on how to drug and rape his own wife.
By Dori Felber. Read: 3 minutes 42 seconds
Time to redefine the outdated definition of rape in France? As the horrific testimony of Gisele Pélicot unfolds, many have argued for a redefinition of rape in France. This specifically followed after lawyer Guillaume de Palma, who is defending 6 of the accused, argued that “In France proof of intent is required” in order for it to qualify as rape.
Gisele Pélicot is a survivor of a series of rape, orchestrated by her husband Dominique Pélicot. Over a period of 9 years (July 2011 to October 2020) Gisele Pélicot was repeatedly raped by her husband and individuals who he would invite, whilst she was drugged and unconscious. In total, Gisele Pélicot was raped 92 times by 72 men, as her husband filmed the abuse. These horrific acts came to light when Dominique Pélicot was arrested by the police for taking upskirt photographs of women in supermarkets. The police discovered thousands of images and videos that Pélicot had taken of the rapes and stored on his computing equipment. Pélicot is further accused of training Jean-Pierre Maréchal on how to drug and rape his own wife.
By Yana Chakarova, 7 minutes.
On the 27th of February 2024 the European Parliament adopted a number of revolutionary environmental measures enshrined in the Environmental Crimes Directive that penalized environmental crimes much more stringently compared to the past. The Greens/EFA Group from the European Parliament called for the establishment of a serious criminal liability in the case of destruction or widespread and substantial damage which is long-lasting or irreversible to an ecosystem, a habitat or the quality of air, soil or water. More specifically, the MEP of the Greens/EFA Group stated that:
By Felix Kraft, 5 minutes. Global warming forces Europe to rethink its industrial production and sets national decision-makers before a legislative paradox. Meanwhile, Brussels has come up with a controversial solution that has the potential to either harmonise or rip apart the world’s entire supply chain network.
By Ilaria Settembrini, 9 minutes. I bet you did not know it. Fair enough. Still, the warming of the Mediterranean Sea is one of the fastest in the world and requires fruitful engagement by the EU. As an essential and historically contentious resource, water can offer Brussels new pathways for intergovernmental cooperation with the southern shores.
Beatriz Santos Mayo, 6 minutes. Did you know that eating fast food products inside the EU is healthier than eating them elsewhere? Did you know some food additives have been restricted in the EU due to potential health risks? The European Food Safety Authority seeks to protect the food chain from the farm to the table and banned everything that may imply a risk to European Citizens.
By Eleonora Pizzini, 8,5 minutes. Maastricht is a city full of international students from all over Europe and the whole world. You may have friends coming from the most unusual places and have discovered new countries thanks to them, but have you ever heard about Golden Passports or Golden Visas? These two procedures are common in many states, among which some are Member States of the European Union, and have recently been highly criticised.
By Beatriz Santos Mayo, 5 minutes. Do you normally use Facebook, Instagram, or Whatsapp? Have you ever read the terms and conditions of these gatekeepers? Do you know what the EU is doing to protect your data? The new two legislative acts, Digital Service Act and the Digital Markets act are the new two legislations that, form part of the “A Europe fit for the digital age” regulatory project that manages the digital regulatory landscape.
By Leonie Kluver, 5 minutes. Do you know that 2022 is the European Year of Youth? Have you ever participated in or benefited from an EU initiative specifically supporting the European youth? For example, the Erasmus+ program? Are you curious about the European Year of Youth and maybe how you can get involved? This article discusses what it is, why it was founded, and how you can participate!
By Aari Helmelaid, 7 minutes. The EU Member States are often praised for their respect for democracy and human rights, but recent trends demonstrate that media freedom in the EU is under threat and the journalistic profession is no longer as simple, stable, or safe. Lack of transparency, threats of violence or murder, draconian laws toward the press, censorship, and cybersecurity risks are only the tip of the iceberg of the tough barriers that journalists and media companies face in their everyday operations. Read the article to find out how the EU is tackling the decline of press operations in the member states, and what to expect from the upcoming Media Freedom Act in 2022.
By Aydın Clara Orberk, 13 minutes. You may have heard about the European Green Deal (EGD), Europe’s roadmap to climate neutrality by 2050. How is this climate neutrality to be achieved? This article entails updates about measures being taken. A set of proposals aims to make the industry of products more sustainable and circular. Some measures concern the textile industry, specifically - why is this so important? Check the article to find out more!
By Jeanne Gallien, 7 minutes. Everyone is aware of their nationality, but how many Europeans are actually aware of their EU citizenship? And the rights that follow it? This article aims to inform young people about their rights given by European citizenship in higher education, which may encourage them to consider a period of study abroad. For this reason, it will solely focus on EU nationals and not on third-country nationals.
By Federico Durante, 7 minutes. The EU has the largest market in the world, which gives it immense regulatory power. Decisions related to products and services taken by the EU have repercussions in other jurisdictions. The AI Act shows how the EU, by simply regulating its internal market, can (in some sectors) affect the distribution of power in international geopolitical conflicts, and defend itself from actors that want to disrupt our European sovereignty. Read the article to know more about the AI Act and its influence on data protection and privacy.
By Lucrezia Nicosia, 7 minutes. This article aims at explaining how the European Union guarantees the protection of human rights of its citizens/residents; this will be done by explaining the scope and content of the EU Charter, its similarities with the ECHR, and the main bodies involved in the framework.
By Erik Schmidt-Bergemann, 5 minutes. Every seven years the EU needs to pass a new budget. The last Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was passed in 2020 and the new budget will run from 2021 till 2027. This article will explain what the budget entails and how the policy-making process works.
