On 19 June, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) took part in the EU Institutions’ Trainees Careers Day at the European Commission’s Charlemagne building in Brussels. Organised by the European Commission Trainees’ Association (ECTA), the event brought together Blue Book trainees, students and organisations from across the European public affairs and civil society sectors to explore career opportunities beyond the EU institutions.
Throughout the day, the EWL team welcomed visitors to our stand to discuss what it means to work for Europe’s largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations. We spoke with aspiring policy professionals, campaigners and communicators about how feminist advocacy can shape European legislation, strengthen democracy and ensure that women’s rights remain at the heart of the EU agenda.
Our conversations highlighted many of the initiatives currently driving EWL’s work. Visitors learned about our PARITY NOW! campaign, which calls on political leaders across Europe to achieve equal representation of women and men in decision-making, as well as our advocacy to ensure the effective implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive and close the persistent gender pay gap. We also presented our recommendations for the new EU Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030, stressing the need for legally binding commitments that deliver real progress for women and girls across Europe.
Many participants were particularly interested in our work beyond legislative advocacy. We shared the outcomes of our recent Women in Climate project, which explored the gendered impacts of climate change and promoted feminist solutions to the climate crisis, alongside opportunities for young feminists to engage through flagship initiatives such as AGORA, the EWL’s annual summer programme bringing together young women from across Europe to strengthen feminist leadership and activism.
The Careers Day also provided an opportunity to showcase the diversity of careers within a feminist civil society organisation. From policy and advocacy to communications, membership coordination, project management and campaigning, we demonstrated how a wide range of skills can contribute to advancing women’s rights and gender equality at European level.
We were inspired by the enthusiasm, curiosity and commitment of the many Blue Book trainees and students who visited our stand. Their interest in contributing to a more equal, democratic and inclusive Europe reminds us why engaging with the next generation of professionals is so important.
We thank the organisers at ECTA for creating this valuable space for dialogue between young professionals and civil society, and we look forward to continuing to welcome emerging feminist advocates into our movement.
