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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 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.
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 2 minutes.
In recent years, the EU has become less attractive in many countries, as proven by phenomena such as Brexit and the rise of right-wing populism, whose leaders often employ anti-Union rhetoric. However, other examples show that joining the EU can still be appealing to third countries. In November 2024, the Icelandic population headed to the polls for a snap election. In the election campaign, the issue of EU membership arose as a crucial topic for the first time in years. Polls showed that becoming an EU member state was voters’ preferred alternative, with 45% of the population being in favour and 35% being opposed to it. But what is the reason behind Iceland's latest spike in Euro-Enthusiasm?
by Miruna-Antonia Aniculăesei, Read: 2 minutes 27 seconds
"Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience" were the words of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson after the tragedy that struck the country on the 4th of February 2025. In the inland city of Örebro, at the Risbergska Campus, where a school for adult education is located, Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting to date occurred, resulting in 10 dead and at least 6 injured. This unfortunate event represented a wake-up call for Swedish authorities, who are now planning on tightening gun control.
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading Time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds
After months of negotiations and an ultimatum from the King, Belgium has a new government. Its head is Bart de Wever, who ideologically wants the Flemish part of Belgium to become independent but now has to work for the whole country. Where does he come from? And what does his appointment mean for Belgium?
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 4 minutes.
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the moon in 1969, then U.S. President Richard Nixon called them from the Oval Office, which marked, according to him, “the most historical telephone call ever made from the White House”. Also, the phone conversation between the then U.S. President Barack Obama and then Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013 went down in history, as it constituted the first instance of communication since 1979 between these two countries. In the last week, there was another phone call made by the current U.S. President, which can be considered historical, although not necessarily with a similar positive connotation.
By Flavia Faraone, 3 minute read
On January 27th, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that she was under investigation for the liberation of Njeim Osama Elmasry, the head of the Libyan judiciary police. Elmasry had been liberated the previous week, under very unconventional circumstances.
By Federico Fo, Reading time: 8 min
Immediately after the beginning of his mandate in January 2025, the new president of the United States, Donald Trump, has begun to follow through with the promises made during his electoral campaign, in terms of trade policy. Indeed, Donald Trump announced the introduction of the already planned tariffs that are going to hit some of America’s main trading partners. The latter include Mexico, Canada, China and the EU.
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading Time: 4:30 Minutes
With the German Federal Elections coming up, many international observers will be curious as to who will form the next government. But to make this happen, the parties will have to agree on forming a coalition. Germany has a long tradition of coalition governments, and this history provides no shortage of confusing and peculiar names. In this article, I will unpack the potential coalitions, their likelihood after the election and what on earth a traffic light has to do with it.
By Margaux Baudry, read 1 min 40
On Monday, February 10th, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis resigned after a third request to remove him from office was scheduled to be discussed and voted on in Parliament on Tuesday. The previous two requests, made by opposition parties, had been denied due to procedural reasons. After two mandates and ten years as head of the country, the pro-EU liberal is stepping off the stage like a disgraced comedian—under the spotlight but without the applause. Let’s look at the events that led to his resignation.
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 4 minutes.
Since the foundation of the German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in 2013, there has been a strong consensus among the democratic parties in the German party landscape to hold a so-called “fire wall” (Brandmauer) against them. The concept “fire wall” originally meant that no one works together with the AfD whatsoever. This agreed course of action is grounded in the fact that the AfD is proven to be anti-democratic and in parts right-wing extremist. However, with the rise of the AfD and the shift to the right of the Christian Democrats (CDU), it does not seem to be so clear anymore what the concept entails. One person responsible for that is Friedrich Merz, the CDU’s chancellor candidate. He proposed a five-point plan on migration policy, which passed the German Bundestag with the help of the AfD on 29th of January, causing a massive backlash and heavy discussions in the parliament as well as throughout Germany. But first things first.
Kristoffer Saetre Reading time 4 min
“We need to spend more, spend better, spend together” (Ursula Von der Leyen POLITICAL GUIDELINES 2024−2029). For the first time ever, the EU will publish a White Paper on European Defence. Tailored to European investment needs, this Paper promises a response to the EU’s challenges at its borders and in Ukraine. Not surprisingly, the defence industry and Academia have already issued their viewpoints. This begs the question: what can we expect from this Paper and how do national defence policies fit within an integrated defence of Europe?
Reading time: 2 minutes, 49 seconds
After the Constitutional Court of Romania cancelled the second round of the Presidential elections, the newly formed government had to decide upon a new electoral season. The cancellation sparked strong reactions throughout the country, in the form of protests, new candidates and even a confrontation with the Bucharest Court of Appeal.
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading time: 3 minutes, 30 seconds
Recent elections across the world have seen incumbent governments in several democratic countries lose power. Is this a trend or a coincidence? And what might be the reasons?
By Ben Rosenbaum, Reading time: 3 minutes, 30 seconds
Why have so many governments struggled in recent elections, and why are populists’ extreme messages so successful? Problems with communication and narratives might be part of the answer.
by Flavia Faraone, 2 minutes read
On November 13th, the Dutch government announced that it would strengthen border controls with its neighboring countries, Belgium and Germany. The restrictions will be put into force on December 9th and will remain in place for the following six months at least. The controls will be carried out in order to limit migrants’ access to the country. The three countries are all part of the Schengen area, which t guarantees free movement of people and goods and which involves almost all of the European Union member States.
By Dori Felber, Read: 3 Minutes
Five years ago, on 31 January 2020, the UK left the European Union. Such a decision was mixed with varying emotions. Of course, there was the large part of the population that felt triumphed by their newlyfound independence, however, on the otherside, the decision was met with sorrow.
Before the vote, Britain made an array of promises, all which would come true if Brexit comes to realisation. However, were those promises really kept? And what has been the true impact of Brexit on Britain?
By Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 3 minutes.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, more than 6 million Ukrainians left the country because of the war. More than 1 million of them are seeking shelter in the neighbouring country of Poland, which is among the most vocal supporters for Ukraine. However, the relationship between Polish people and Ukrainian refugees became more complex over time. But more on that later, first the most recent developments.
By: Lisa Schipperijn
Would you like a career in European affairs, but not directly in an EU institution? Maybe a career in research is something for you! Blue&yellow journalist Lisa got the chance to speak with Jamie Slater, a junior policy officer at the European Centre for Development Policy, to discuss his work and career trajectory.
By Margaux Baudry, Read: 4 mins
On January 20th, 2025, Biden gave the keys to the Oval Office back to his predecessor President Trump. Joe Biden was elected on the 3rd of November 2020 and took possession of the White House on January 20th, 2021. His campaign became the 1st in history to raise over $1 billion from donors. He defeated Trump 306-232 in the Electoral College and had a 4-point margin in the popular vote.
After 4 years as the head of the United States, here is a summary of his mandate!
By: Anna-Magdalena Glockzin, 2 minutes.
After the collapse of its “traffic light" government, Germany is facing new elections on the 23rd of February 2025. The outcome is being closely watched. A shift to the right is certain, as the polls show. The conservative centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) are in the lead, and their chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz is widely expected to take over as Germany’s new chancellor. In the meantime, Merz is busy setting the scene for his future office term. At the Leaders’ Retreat of the European People’s Party (EPP) on the 17th and 18th of January in Berlin, he was a prominent figure. He gathered nine EPP heads of state, among them leaders from Latvia, Greece, Sweden and Portugal, EPP’s chair Manfred Weber, Parliament President Roberta Metsola as well as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had just recovered from severe pneumonia. This meeting was supposed to underscore the leading role among European conservative leaders that Merz already claims for himself. After all, the German Christian Democrats make up the largest part of the EPP, which is in turn the biggest party in the European Parliament.
By: Gabriel Panza
Reading time: 4.3 minutes
European firms are rethinking their strategies in Asia, and Vietnam is swiftly becoming the region’s hottest investment location. China, the once global manufacturing powerhouse, has started to lose its shine due to rising costs, political tensions, and limiting policies, leaving firms wondering if they should relocate. Enter Vietnam. This industrial flourishing Southeast Asian nation is becoming a serious contender, offering stability, attractive investment costs, and game-changing trade agreements. Hence it is only natural that EU companies have quickly registered investments with Vietnam, increasing by 69.6% in just the first eight months of 2022.
What are the reasons behind this shift? This article will address why Vietnam is becoming the top choice for EU companies and why China is falling out of favor.
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.
