Working at EIPA

I joined EIPA because of its mission, interesting projects, strong network, and the constant learning opportunities it offers in EU and public affairs, all within a collaborative and dynamic environment. Daily, I manage the Master of European Legal Studies (MELS), which has been a truly enriching and fulfilling experience. This role has allowed me to contribute to a meaningful academic programme that supports professionals from across Europe in deepening their understanding of EU law. I have the chance to work closely with a diverse network of academics, students, and institutional partners, particularly the University of Lorraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg. Coordinating MELS allows me to be involved in a wide range of activities, from academic planning and student support to event organisation and budget management.

Working at EIPA allows me to deepen my knowledge of topics that truly fascinate me – EU criminal law, fundamental rights, and the digitalisation of justice. A great example of this is the DIGICRIM project, where I had the opportunity to explore the interplay between judicial cooperation instruments in criminal matters and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The project is particularly interesting given that one of its main partners is the Polish National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution (KSSIP). Beyond bringing EU law closer to judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and civil society, it also aims to strengthen the rule of law across the EU – a goal that feels especially important in light of the ongoing rule of law challenges the Union is facing. Overall, my experience at EIPA has allowed me to connect with like-minded experts fostering an inspiring environment to exchange ideas and reflect critically on key challenges facing the EU and to contribute to practical solutions through research and training.

For me, working at EIPA means contributing, even in a small way, to strengthening the European Union every day. With a background in international relations and European integration, I truly believe that institutions like EIPA play a key role in expanding knowledge and fostering a common European culture. Through EU co-funded projects, we train judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and civil society members in specific areas of EU law. It’s an enriching professional and human experience, working with outstanding European partners and experts.

My experience at EIPA has been very positive so far. My curiosity and questions have mingled with my discovery of the Institute, its projects, and its ambitions. I like my new tasks, and my department’s plans look promising. From what little I’ve seen, I can say that this is an Institute with a bright future and great potential (already well-exploited). There are still things to do, giving me momentum and confidence for the rest of my experience at EIPA.

Working at EIPA, one has the opportunity to contribute to the Institute’s mission of providing ‘cross-national and cross-institutional comparative perspectives on EU policies’.

Seeing first-hand the impact that our seminars and consultancy projects have on our counterparts is incredibly rewarding, particularly on the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs project. On this project, our team provides institution and competence-building assistance to countries that have applied for EU membership and/or have association agreements with the EU.

Overall, the positive and open learning environment at EIPA offers great opportunities to grow your capacities and knowledge of EU and public affairs, while connecting with colleagues from a wide array of backgrounds and areas of expertise in both Luxembourg and Maastricht.

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.