Job Alert – It’s the Environment, Stupid

As every year, Brussels is quickly getting back on its feet after the winter holidays – with a spectacular vote on energy efficiency in the European Parliament, a new Commission High Level group on fake news, a strategy to reduce plastics packaging as well as personal and political quarrels nationally and in the European Parliament. Cryptocurrencies, the #Metoo campaign, economic recovery and other global topics are currently debated in Davos by more than 900 CEOs and 70 Heads of State, with a focus on how to make those benefit from globalisation who have so far lost out.

Effects of globalisation are also in the focus of the European Commission’s Plastics Strategy announced last week – with the aim of reducing plastic waste dramatically by 2030, by making all plastic packaging reusable or recyclable. Whilst the success of this strategy is still far away and remains to be seen – especially with this Commission’s legislative period ending in 2019 – another environmental initiative is much further ahead. The European Parliament voted on its amendments to the Energy Efficiency directive – and in favour of a share of at least 35% of renewables, rather than the 27% backed by EU member states: interesting trilogue negotiations ahead.

Meanwhile, emotions go high in the European Parliament – Polish MEP Ryszard Czarnecki compared one of his colleagues with a Nazi collaborator. As a result, the major political party leaders asked for Czarnecki’s dismissal. This move triggered a pro-Czarnecky email campaign spamming journalists and MEPs – which thoroughly backfired; no solution in sight at this stage.

The same holds for Spain: judicial games rather than an honest debate for solutions continue to rule the relationship between Catalonia and Spain. Charles Puigdemont is now the official candidate for Catalan president – but cannot return to Spain where he is facing charges, and where his candidacy is simply not accepted.

At least Germany is making progress: conservative CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats have agreed on coalition talks – with a feeble backing of 56 Percent on SPD side. If Germany gets back on the European table soon, the EU bubble may be able to get some peace of mind and enjoy the various art events pouring over Brussels again, as every year: from BRAFA 2018 and Art Truc Troc this weekend to next week’s BILY (Brussels I Love You) and ArtopenKunst – there are many ways to distract your mind from politics. If that is precisely not what you want, and you rather seek to be a part of it, find find attached some jobs and as usual more on politjobs.eu!

Irina Michalowitz – im@politapps.eu

Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain sucht Fachreferent(-in)

Zu Ihrem zukünftigen Aufgabenbereich gehören: Interessenvertretung für die Metropolregion FrankfurtRheinMain in Brüssel; Repräsentation der Metropolregion FrankfurtRheinMain in Brüssel; Monitoring der Gesetzgebungsverfahren und Förderprogrammatik der Europäischen Union; Beschaffung, Aufbereitung und Weitergabe von Informationen der EU-Institutionen; Vorbereitung von Stellungnahmen und Konsultationsbeiträgen; Monitoring und Bewertung laufender EU-Förderprogramme und frühzeitige Weitergabe von Informationen über Ausschreibungen und Fördermöglichkeiten in die Region; Mitarbeit bei der Beantwortung von Anfragen aus der Metropolregion zu EU-Fördermöglichkeiten und weiterführende Fördermittelberatung (…)

IEEP seeks Chief Economist

IEEP is seeking an influential, analytical and committed researcher who is keen to play a leading role in European climate and environmental policy making and happy to be challenged in a fast-paced environment. The right candidate will have excellent analytical and report writing skills, be an experienced and effective communicator able to speak with authority on EU and international environmental policy issues, and a dedicated team player and motivator. A PhD in environmental or ecological economics (or demonstrable equivalent experience) and an understanding of EU policy and institutions are essential (…)

European Youth Forum seeks Policy Officer

The Youth Forum is now looking for a Policy Officer to join our team. The Policy Officer will work in the Policy and Advocacy Department and report to one of the Department’s Team Leaders. The  Policy  Officer  will  work  on  supporting  and  strenghtening  the  Youth  Forum’s cooperation  with  other  international  regional  youth  platforms  &  networks  and institutions inside and outside Europe as well as other global partners. Key areas of cooperation include: sustainable development; peace & security, youth rights and youth participation (…)

Philips seeks Senior Manager Government and Public Affairs

You are responsible for: Keeping track of various EU regulations and policies, inform internal stakeholders about ongoing developments and solicit their active participation in advocacy strategy; Developing Philips strategies and implementation plans to influence EU regulatory decisions and policies that support the company’s business objectives in consultation with key internal stakeholders; Developing and maintaining effective relationships with EU officials from the European Commission, European Parliament and Permanent Representations of the EU Member States in Brussels; Positioning Philips as a thought leader in healthcare in the EU environment in Brussels; Representing Philips’ interest in EU trade associations and other Brussels-based groups; Representing Philips in relevant EU policy debates (…)

SAP seeks Public Policy Assistant

The Public Policy Assistant, based in Brussels, Belgium, is expected to fulfil the following tasks: Preparing Desktop-Research, Memos and Briefings on EU and global policy developments – focus on the digital economy; Monitoring and analysing current EU public policy topics for selected, regulated industries in close collaboration with SAP business units; Assist the Head Global Public Policy: Organising meetings and travel arrangements; Organisation of policy events and workshops in Brussels; Assist with preparation of meetings, workshops, keynotes, etc.; Carrying out daily ad-hoc requests (…)