Enlargement Candidate Member Initiative Launched

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its 585th Plenary Session on February 14–15 and officially announced the launch of the Enlargement Candidate Member (ECM) Initiative. This initiative makes the EESC the first EU institution to offer a dedicated participation and cooperation opportunity for candidate countries. KAGIDER is one of the 15 ECMs selected from Turkey. Read more

Mary Collins Appointed as New Secretary General of the European Women’s Lobby

The European Women’s Lobby has announced the appointment of Mary Collins as its Secretary General. In addition to her 30 years of experience in economic and social policy, Mary brings a strong commitment to women's rights and extensive expertise in advocating for feminism. As the new Secretary General, she will continue to lead the EWL with a pledge to advance women's rights across Europe. Read more

New Policy Paper to Support Feminist Leadership in Europe

A policy paper titled “Systemic Change for Women Civil Society Organization (CSO) Leaders – How Can We Support Feminist Leadership in Europe?” was publicly launched in Brussels by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) EU Office, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), the Green European Foundation (GEF), and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung EU Office. The paper amplifies the voices of 148 women CSO leaders, highlighting the current obstacles and emerging opportunities for female leadership in Europe. Read more • Download publication

Ursula von der Leyen to Run Again for President of the European Commission

Ursula von der Leyen has announced her candidacy for a second term as President of the European Commission following her party CDU’s (Christian Democratic Union) meeting in Berlin on February 19. CDU will support her candidacy through its European Parliament political group, the European People’s Party (EPP), which is expected to formally announce its Spitzenkandidat at its congress in Bucharest on March 6–7.

Von der Leyen stated that she aims to continue working on competitiveness, climate, and digitalization within the EU, while also focusing on implementing the Migration Pact and strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities. Read more

EU–Türkiye High-Level Trade Working Group Meets in Brussels

The EU–Türkiye High-Level Trade Working Group convened in Brussels with Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu and the European Commission’s Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand in attendance. The group met to assess strategies for enhancing the Customs Union, following the roadmap agreed upon in 2023. The discussions centered on strengthening commercial and economic ties, with notable progress made in reducing trade barriers. Read more

Informal Meeting of Gender Equality Ministers Held in Brussels

The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for gender equality took place on February 26–27 at Egmont Palace in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Belgium’s Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Equal Opportunities, and Diversity, Marie-Colline Leroy.

This critical meeting came as the current European Parliament legislative term and the first mandate of an Equality Commissioner in the European Commission near their conclusion. Despite notable progress on gender equality in the EU, significant gaps remain. Read more

Spain, Belgium, and Hungary Trio Sign Gender Equality Declaration

The trio presidency of the Council of the European Union—Spain, Belgium, and Hungary—have pledged to jointly advocate and collaborate on gender equality in Europe. The joint declaration, originally adopted during Spain’s presidency in July 2023, was symbolically signed in Brussels on February 27. Read more 

Final Call for New Blue Book Trainees!

Applications are now open for the prestigious Blue Book traineeships at the European Commission, starting in October 2024. This program offers a paid internship opportunity to gain hands-on experience within EU institutions and agencies. If you have no prior experience with EU bodies and are at least a university graduate, you can apply online until March 15, 2024, at 10:00 (Brussels time). Applications are open to EU citizens of all ages, and a limited number of positions are available to non-EU nationals as well. Read more