From: IE European Union Club MIX Date: April 8 Subject: EU Club April Newsletter
Dear First_Name,
THE IE EU CLUB newsletter
APRIL 2025
Welcome to the April Edition of the EU Club Newsletter!
Spring has officially arrived, and so has a new month full of exciting opportunities to engage with European affairs. As always, we’re here to bring the EU community at IE closer together through dialogue, events, and collaboration.
This month, we’re kicking things off with a compelling panel discussion you won’t want to miss: “Trump’s Effect on the EU: Challenges & Opportunities”, happening this Wednesday, April 9th in Tower Room T-16.02. Join us as our panel of experts dives into the evolving transatlantic relationship and what it means for the European Union moving forward. The discussion will be followed by a cocktail reception, so stick around to network, chat, and enjoy a drink or two!
Make sure to register on IE Connects to secure your spot.
Stay tuned for more events, updates, and ways to get involved – and as always, thank you for being part of the EU Club community!
EVENT
Trump's Effect on The EU: Challenges and Opportunities
Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring the impact of Donald Trump’s political influence on the European Union. Our expert panel will examine the challenges his policies and rhetoric have posed for EU institutions, transatlantic relations, and global diplomacy — while also considering the potential opportunities that may arise for European autonomy and leadership. Engage in a dynamic conversation on how Europe is responding to shifting political tides.
France has never been known for political boredom, but this past month has been particularly theatrical, even by French standards. The headline? Marine Le Pen, a long-time far-right heavyweight and three-time presidential candidate, has been convicted of embezzling nearly €5 million in EU funds and barred from public office for five years.
Le Pen, who had been considered a top contender for France’s 2027 presidential election, was found to have misused European Parliament funds between 2004 and 2016 to finance party expenses. The court called her role “central” to the scheme. Her sentence: four years in prison (two suspended), 100,000 Euros in fines, and a political exile, pending appeal. (1)
Across France and the EU, reactions have run the full gamut, going from quiet satisfaction to political outrage. While Le Pen’s supporters cry foul and label the conviction a calculated attempt to derail her candidacy, others argue it’s a long-awaited reckoning. However, this isn’t just a domestic scandal for the EU, it’s a cautionary tale. Those who love to denounce Brussels’s bureaucracy often seem perfectly content to dip into its coffers when it suits them. (2)
The National Rally, formerly the National Front, is now in damage control mode. Le Pen’s carefully curated image overhaul, years in the making, is teetering. The party’s next hope, 29 year-old Jordan Bardella may inherit the leadership, but with a verdict like this in the backdrop, the climb just got steeper. (3)
Within France, the ruling adds fuel to an already simmering political climate. President Macron’s government is already under fire and the National Assembly is far from stable. The timing of Le Pen’s conviction could disrupt the power dynamics ahead of upcoming EU and domestic elections.
On the European stage, this is more than just a French embarrassment. The case raises serious questions about how EU funds are monitored but also affirms that accountability, no matter how delayed, is still possible within EU structures.
All eyes now turn to Bardella and to Le Pen’s appeal.
The EU's Silence on the Situation in Turkey
Vanessa Chioaru
Over the past weeks, hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have returned to the streets of Istanbul, Turkey to show support for the city’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Omamoglu who was arrested on corruption charges (1). Omamoglu has been named as the candidate to represent the Republican People’s Party (CHP) (2) in the elections set to take place in 2028, being widely viewed as the only politician capable of challenging current President Erdogan (3). Despite the mass protests, the EU has been oddly silent in expressing its stance.
Turkey’s suppression of democratic opposition would have elicited strong protests from Europe in the past, however, with the world currently experiencing the worst rift in trans-Atlantic relations and the growing threat from Russia, the EU’s agenda holds different priorities (4). As European leaders begin planning security cooperation without the US, the European Union’s new White Paper on defence outlines impending concerns, particularly naming Turkey as a key partner in ensuring European security (6). The 2015 EU-Turkey deal where Turkey agreed to manage migration flows into Europe in exchange for aid, is one such example of the importance of Turkey as an ally to the European Union. (7) Through an op-ed written from behind bars, Imamoglu himself exclaimed that “recent events have enhanced Turkey’s strategic importance, not least given its critical capacity to help with European security.” (8)
Regardless, geopolitics should not turn a blind eye to the erosion of values, particularly possible human rights violations. Italian Parliament Member Lia Quartapelle remarked that Europeans should be “clear-eyed” about the authoritarian nature of Erdogan’s regime (9). While security cooperation with Ankara is desirable, Camille Grand, a distinguished policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations stated that the domestic turmoil cannot be ignored forever (10). Sooner or later, the European Union will need to address the situation in Turkey.
Poland & Baltic States Pull Out of Ottawa Convention
Nikola Pantelic
The Ottawa Convention has been under scrutiny within ministries of defence of Russia and Belarus-bordering EU members, especially Poland, the Baltics and more recently Finland. Signed in 1997, the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines is a landmark disarmament treaty that prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. It entered into force in 1999 and has been ratified by 164 countries since (1). In mid-March, Baltic and Polish officials issued a joint statement of their intention to withdraw from the said convention due to concerns about a Russian attack (2).
With the war in Ukraine seemingly nearing an end and not the one Europe had hoped for, Member States are regrouping and creating a strategy to fight against expected "Russian vengeance." Polish Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that "Poland's hands cannot be tied [in a potential armed conflict]" (3) referring to the fact that neither Moscow nor its allied Minsk ratified the Ottawa convention meaning they wouldn't be constrained by the values of the treaty.
Throughout the Ukraine war, Russia has been consistent in deploying anti-personnel landmines (4) and Polish, Baltic and Finnish officials are convinced there is no reason to believe that wouldn't be the case in the anticipated scenario. On the other hand, Norway has officially condemned such a move expressing the withdrawal from the convention to be a threat to civilians' lives (5). This situation is a great example of the difficulty that arises with the question of measuring state interest, such as defence, against human rights and protection measures - neither choice appears to be particularly favourable yet the decision must be made.
Opinion Pieces
Working In a Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU: Insights for Students Wishing to Work in EU or Governmental Institutions
Panagiotis Vakirtzis
From September to December 2024, I had the great opportunity to intern in the Greek Permanent Representation to the European Union and, more specifically, at the General Directorate of the Political and Security Committee (PSC). Working in the Permanent Representation meant that I had the chance to watch live EU meetings of the PSC, where diplomats of all EU member states discussed key security and political issues affecting the EU. Considering that many students are looking for internships, it would be a great idea to share my experience and what it looks like to work in a governmental post associated with the European Union.
A Permanent Representation is a country’s diplomatic mission to an international or regional organization aiming to represent its interests within the organization and partake in negotiations (1). In contrast with embassies, Permanent Representations manage the country’s relations with the organization and do not interact with the host country.
Working for the Permanent Representation of Greece to the European Union provided valuable insights that I consider immensely important for my future career. First, watching EU debates and seeing member states sharing their opinions on topics affecting all EU member states was fascinating. It was indeed diplomacy in action. The PSC Agenda often tackled topics such as the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Sahel, and the recent elections in EU candidate states like Moldova and Georgia. My main task was to keep track of these meetings and compose reports where I would have to summarize the key points and outcomes of the session. My supervisor would correct these reports and send them to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, I was often tasked to write memos to assist the workload of diplomats and help them prepare for future negotiations.
Overall, my experience at the Greek Permanent Representation was positive. I am very grateful to have worked alongside the PSC Team, and I thank them for all their support and guidance. Not only was this experience valuable for my CV, but I also got a taste of what working in the EU is like on a day-to-day basis. Even though the Permanent Representation is not an EU institution but a governmental one, I engaged almost daily with EU organs mainly by attending PSC meetings and interacting with diplomats of my home country. Additionally, I gained a better understanding of how the EU operates and its impact on everyday citizens. Moreover, I cultivated my writing skills since I had to write lots of different reports. It must be noted that permanent representations work in the native language of their country. At first, it was challenging to work in a fully Greek environment. Still, thanks to this experience I improved my written and oral communication in my mother tongue.
One negative aspect of working in a permanent representation is that day-to-day tasks can be repetitive. Watch the PSC meeting, write a report, send it to your supervisor, and so on. That is so because tasks interns can do are limited due to the high confidentiality in a permanent representation. Some files, meetings, and emails are only meant for diplomats working full-time in permanent representation. Therefore, interns cannot have access to them. Also, this work involves a lot of bureaucracy. Some tasks assigned will seem like busy work, but trust me, no work interns do within the Permanent Representation goes to waste, and the PSC Team made sure to show their appreciation whenever tasks were completed timely and efficiently.
Another aspect worth discussing is living in Brussels, which was much nicer than what I anticipated. Many people call Brussels ugly and boring, but this is far from reality. The city might not have the most vibrant nightlife in Europe or the best architecture, but there are many fun activities one can do to spend time there. From visiting top-notch museums to traveling around Belgium on the weekends, Brussels has much more in store than you might expect. Many other interns work for other permanent representations or EU institutions, so don’t hesitate to get to know them. And, of course, Brussels is the best place for networking. Every Thursday, for example, people working in EU institutions gather in Place du Luxembourg, right outside the European Parliament building after work to grab drinks. This is the perfect chance to get in touch with people working for the EU, and who knows, one of them might be interested in your profile. Embrace the international environment in Brussels and try not only to stick to “your people”.
If you are interested in working in a permanent representation, you should head to your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and check if they have any internship vacancies available. If you are interested in the EU, working in a country’s permanent representation to the EU is the perfect place to start your career journey.
EU-US Tariffs from an American Perspective
Stefan Borrero
Having lived in Europe as an American for the past couple of years, I have noticed a huge difference in how we see things in the US and how they are seen over here. Probably the most relevant today are the EU/US trade tensions, specifically the 25% tariff on EU steel and aluminium (1).
In the US, this action is framed as an economic strategy or a political statement. It is portrayed as a way to protect and promote domestic manufacturing, making it seem like foreign producers are undercutting them and taking business away from them. The administration is promoting it as a patriotic way to boost the economy, however, this idea is flawed. It oversimplifies a deeply connected global economy. Maybe in the short term, it could prove to be beneficial, but in the long term, it will strain important relationships and raise prices for American consumers and manufacturers.
Now living on this side, it feels more personal. It seems like an attack on a close partnership, one that is supposedly rooted in trust and shared values. Over here, it’s not just a policy. There is a sentiment that the US is trying to bully the EU and assert dominance as the “big brother”.
The EU has made it clear this is not the case as the Commission responded quickly, referring to the tariffs as “unjustified” and announcing up to €26 billion in countermeasures. Beginning on April 1st, the EU will reactivate suspended tariffs from 2018 and 2020, with more expected on the way by mid–April (2). Europe will protect its own interests and will not back down from the US.
This action by the US will not just affect factories and corporations, but also individuals. It will disturb prices, disrupt supply chains, and strain jobs on both sides. As President von der Leyen said, “Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business and even worse for consumers.”(3)
As of right now it seems like both sides lose, but that doesn’t seem to defuse the situation. It’s hard not to wonder, how far are we willing to go before we remember we are supposed to be allies?
