Working at EIPA

The fifteen years I spent at EIPA in the beautiful city of Maastricht were the highlight of my career – a chance to work with colleagues from across Europe and an opportunity to share experience by teaching and writing about European issues. It was an opportunity to help public officials at EU, national and sub-national level to improve the way the EU works for its citizens – the highlight being participation from 2009 to 2021 in the European Public Sector Awards (EPSA) led by EIPA which encourages public sector bodies to share their experiences and good practices for the benefit of others.

Through my activities at EIPA, I have been able to extensively exchange ideas with officials from all Member States and the EU institutions, which allowed me to deepen my understanding of processes and policies from different angles and perspectives. This is a unique experience, and it is a great pleasure to be involved in the development of a truly European public administration.

EIPA feels like a place where young professionals can get a solid foundation for their career. There are always numerous projects with an array of tasks, which means you can figure out where you want to position yourself in the future. Work-culture in the Netherlands ensures that fresh new ideas from young professionals are valued, and this is definitely evident in the teams I work in!

EIPA was a pivotal stepping stone in my career journey. I had the possibility to develop further and refine my skills, learn new ones – in project management particularly – and actively contribute to the success of our projects thanks to the close collaboration with and guidance of the senior colleagues and management, who have progressively entrusted me with more responsibility roles and tasks. I am grateful for the invaluable opportunities EIPA offered and will always cherish the memories and lessons learned during my tenure there.

I’ve had the privilege of being a part of EIPA for the past year and a half, and from day one, I felt a sense of belonging and support from my colleagues that has only grown stronger over time.

What I like most in my work is, beyond the training that I am delivering, the interaction with people working for the EU institutions, especially for the European Commission, but also the interaction with people working in the public administration of member states.

I have been working for EIPA since more than 30 years, first as a Project Organiser and now as Coordinator of the Programme Organisation Department and Assistant to the Director of EIPA Luxembourg. I truly enjoy juggling my various responsibilities, including contributing to new proposals for grants and tenders, managing EU-funded projects, and technical assistance projects for the Member States, coordinating the PO team, and contributing towards preparing EIPA Luxembourg’s yearly work plan.

What I like most about working at EIPA is how it promotes training and self-development. The field that I work in, marketing, is very dynamic, I always have to stay up to date with the latest trends, and here at EIPA, I am able to learn about the newest developments in the marketing field and make sure that things that I learn I can apply directly in the work field.

I joined EIPA as an intern in the Evaluation and Impact Assessment team, and after six months of internship, I was offered a contract as a research assistant in the EU governance team. What I enjoy the most about working at EIPA is that there is room for professional development and that EIPA is a flexible organisation, as I got the opportunity to work in different fields.

Thanks to the exceptional support I received from EIPA, my move to Maastricht turned out to be remarkably smooth and exciting. They provided me with invaluable assistance, including finding accommodation for the first period, and ongoing support from my colleagues to navigate both the organisation and the vibrant city of Maastricht. This played a significant role in helping me adapt to my new surroundings: making me feel right at home from the beginning.