Robin Roels works in the field of resource justice and extractivism at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). He is the coordinator of the Critical Raw Materials Coalition.

Isabella Castrogiovani has been with UNICEF for over 20 years. She has extensive programming and advocacy experience, notably in the sectors of children's rights and rule of law. She has led UNICEF's advocacy on children and armed conflict in the context of the Syrian war. Isabella participated in our 8th EU Academy in November 2022.

Before joining the European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ) to work on mandatory human rights due diligence and company law, Marion Lupin was an EU Affairs advisor for the Belgian Liberal Trade Union EU and national social policy. We interviewed Marion on the sidelines of the 8th EU Academy in Brussels in November 2022.

Jana Leggen and Mary Hallaert are both active in Generation Climate Europe, a coalition of youth-led networks on climate and environmental issues at the European level.

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

On the 10th of March, together with other participants from like-minded organisations, I was warmly welcomed by Marc, Lucy and Joost at Holland House to gear up for the 2020 German Council Presidency for what would be an interactive and intensive two-day training.

I learned more from this programme than I have from years of studying political science. That might be slightly provocative – not least towards my dear university – but of course, in reality there is no conflict

On Thursday at 9 am, along with 19 other participants from all over Europe, I was warmly welcomed at Holland House (a few metres away from the European Parliament) by two trainers greatly experienced in the world of EU advocacy: Marc-Olivier Herman and Joost Mulder.

With a beautiful and fitting view of the European Parliament against the blue autumn sky, we embarked on an educational, exciting, high-speed journey along the EU policy and legislative tube line.

On 17-18 October, EUChanger together with Better Europe will run a second training on EU influencing for the public good.

With over 60% newly elected MEPs, there is a lot of uncertainty as to where the new European Parliament is heading. At EUChanger’s EU academy on 21 June, Davide Ferrari, chief of research at VoteWatch Europe, gave his take on the impact of the May 2019 European Parliament elections.

Registrations are now open for the next EUAcademy that will take place in Brussels on 17-18 October. The theme is ‘Advocating for the public good: form one European Commission to the next.’