I have been especially sensitive to the training format that combines theory and practice. This combination allowed me to better understand and visualize the European decision-making process. I can now identify the key moments and people, and know when and how to intervene.

What I liked most about this training was the thouroughness of the trainers, and how they made sure the information they were providing was well received and assimilated by participants. Another key component of the training was the inclusion of an insider’s perspective, which enriched the training with knowledge that is impossible to find in academic books.

Despite the online format, I had the opportunity to network with fellow participants during speed dating sessions. Meeting these inspiring people gave me renewed hope because so many are involved in the fight for a world where the pursuit of the interest of a few will no longer harm society.

Participating in the April-May 2021 online edition of the EUAcademy, themed “Bursting the Brussels bubble - Advocating for the public good: a Member State perspective”, made me much more aware of how I can strategically engage at the national level to contribute to more just policies across the EU.

I left the workshop feeling confident that I had gained practical tools and a theoretical understanding of why they worked and how to apply them strategically. I spent two days with capable, dedicated people who work every day to fight for the public interest.

The September 2020 EU Academy ‘Advocating for the public good in the wake of the coronavirus crisis’ gathered sixteen participants from diverse fields such as climate, sustainable development, and human rights.

An EUChanger Network webinar on EU decision-making & influencing in the COVID-19 era took place on June 26 2020 . We presented the results of a survey on the impacts of the coronavirus crisis on EU decision-making and influencing carried out in June 2020.

Led by Marc-Olivier Herman and Joost Mulder, the training combined the essentials of EU decision-making, insights from Council representatives and key steps of an advocacy strategy in a uniquely interactive format.

My original motivation to attend this training was to learn from practitioners in- and outside of the EU institutions. Indeed, in less than two days, I was given many more practical insights than in my Political Science and European Union studies at University