The event was opened by Dr. Giulia Tercovich, EUPOP Project Coordinator for Research Outreach, followed by welcoming remarks on “The Strategic Importance of EU-India cooperation” by Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the Delegation of EU to India and Bhutan. The event featured a panel discussion on “Current priorities, challenges and opportunities within the context of EU-India relations” moderated by Dr. Giulia Tercovich. The panelists included Ms. Priya Poojary, Lecturer at Manipal Centre for European Studies, and Dr. Constantino Xavier, Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, who delved into the main features, priorities, challenges, and opportunities of the EU-India Strategic Partnership. Following this, selected participants for the 2023 EU-India Young Leaders Exchange were invited to take part in a brainstorming session that synthesized the main conclusions from the 1st Virtual Exchange.

The cohort of 20 Young leaders was selected through a competitive selection process that assessed over 90 applications. In the next months they will reflect and discuss the challenges and opportunities of the EU-India relationship. This exercise will result in the creation of a policy brief that will provide policy recommendations. This brief will be presented to experts and policymakers at the end of the year at the margin of the Brussels Indo-Pacific Dialogue.

Stay up to date with all the latest about the EUPOP in India! Check out our website and follow us on Twitter.

This event forms part of the EU Policy and Outreach Partnership (EUPOP) in India, an initiative that is financially supported by the European Union.

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The Model European Union was successfully hosted by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Korea (RoK) in cooperation with the three Jean Monnet EU Centres of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), Yonsei University and of Korea University.

This year on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of EU-RoK diplomatic relations, two parallel simulations were organised, one on Climate Action in English and one on Digital Cooperation in Korean. The simulation of the Council of the European Union saw the participation of 48 students from 12 universities across South Korea. A press release of the event is available here in English and in Korean.

In preparation for the simulation, the selected students attended a 10-hour online training programme that provided them with the necessary background information to prepare for the MEU simulation. This unique opportunity represented for students the possibility to learn more about the European Union, its structure, procedures, dynamics and its initiatives in various policy sectors, as well as to improve their negotiation, public speaking and conflict resolution skills. During the training period, participants visited the EU Delegation in Seoul and met with Mr. Fredrik Exfeldt, Head of the Political Section of the EU Delegation. They also exchanged with experts in the topics discussed, as well as with representatives of the country they then represented in the simulation.

To learn more about the EUPOP project, visit here.

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The event was opened by Dr. Giulia Tercovich, EUPOP Project Coordinator for Research Outreach, with welcoming remarks from Maria Rosa Sabbatelli, Deputy Head of Unit, Rapid Response Europe, Asia and Americas, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, European Commission. The event then proceeded to the first panel discussion moderated by Patryk Kugiel from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). The panelists included Dr. Eva Pejsova from the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (BSoG-VUB) and Dr. Gulshan Sachdeva from the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for EU Studies in India at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). This panel focused on re-examining EU-India cooperation amidst great power competition, and the speakers discussed the key components of the EU-India Strategic Partnership, how it has been strengthened in recent years, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the relationship between the EU and India.

The second panel of the day was moderated by Dr. Giulia Tercovich. It focused on leveraging EU-India cooperation through specific policies and the speakers included Ankita Dutta from the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Ajay Shah from XKDR Forum, Kritika Krishnamurthy from Bridge Policy Think Tank and Pavan Ananth from Pravesh Global Consulting. The panelists discussed how the EU and India can collaborate to strengthen the international rules-based order, how they can collaborate on health, how to address the disinformation threat coming from Russia and China, and how to work together when it comes to digital governance.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Giulia Tercovich, who emphasized the importance of collaboration between the EU and India to ensure global stability and prosperity. Ultimately, this event provided a great opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics within EU-India relations.

Stay up to date with all the latest about the EUPOP in India! Check out our website and follow us on Twitter.

This kick-off event forms part of the EU Policy and Outreach Partnership (EUPOP) in India, an initiative that is financially supported by the European Union.

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Check out this opportunity!

Be part of the 2023 EU-India Young Leaders Exchange, a project that aims to promote dialogue and cooperation between young Europeans and Indians as they deliberate on the challenges and opportunities of EU-India relations. CSDS welcomes young European and Indian participants (below 30 years) to be a part of discussions on important global issues and to explore innovative ways by which both actors can collaborate to work together.

During this program, which will run from April to December 2023, 20 young Europeans and Indians will have the chance to engage with experts in EU-India relations and share their views with scholars, policymakers and researchers. A priori, these exchanges will take place virtually.

These exchanges will culminate with the drafting of one report – to be presented on the side-lines of the 2023 Brussels Indo-Pacific Dialogue. Participants will also get the opportunity to engage with relevant policymakers and stakeholders both in Brussels and New Delhi.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Young European and Indian  participants below 30 years old.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

1. Access the Google Form HERE.

2. Submit your application consisting in the following items:

• An updated CV
• Your motivation to participate in the 2023 Young EU-India Leaders Exchange (500 words, max)
• Recording a 3-minutes video on EU-India relations (full details on the Google Form)

Applications are open until 31st March 2023 at 11.00h CET/15.30h IST.

For any clarifications or further details, please contact Giulia Tercovich (EUPOP Project Coordinator) at giulia.tercovich@vub.be.

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MEU 2023 will be held in Seoul on May 25-26, 2023 (Thursday-Friday) with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea. The overall purpose of the MEU is to provide a framework for a simulation of the decision-making process of the EU Council and Council of the European Union. The preparatory training and the simulation provide all participants with a better understanding of the EU, of its decision-making process, its politics and policies, as well as of major current issues of international relations. Also, the simulation should provide participants with opportunities to develop their skills and techniques at negotiation and conflict resolution, public speaking, debate, expository writing, logic and reasoning, small-group dynamics, leadership, and problem- solving.

The topics of the MEU2023 are ‘Digital Cooperation’ for the session that will be held in Korean and; ‘Climate Action’ for the session that will be held in English.

The roles envisaged for each simulation are:

• 2 EU Commission representatives
• 2 Secretariat representatives
• 27 Ministers of the EU Member States
• 10 journalists

At the end of the simulation, participants will receive a certificate signed by the EU Ambassador. The 3 best students, will win a 2-week summer School in summer 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Korean students interested in global issues such as EU, International Organizations, climate and digital agendas.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

1. Visit the official Facebook page “MEU KOREA”.

2. Access the Google Form HERE.

3. Submit your application (in English), consisting in the following items:

• An updated CV
• A 2-minutes self-introduction video

WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND?

• Topics: Climate Action (in English) and Digital Cooperation (in Korean).
• Deadline for applications: 14 April 2023.
• Date of MEU: 25-26 May 2023.

The post MEU KOREA 2023 | Call for applications appeared first on CSDS.

Check the vacancies here:

PhD fellowships “Sino American Competition and European Strategic Autonomy”, deadline 31 Janaury 2023. 

Postdoctoral researchers “Sino American Competition and European Strategic Autonomy”, deadline 31 January 2023.

The post Research vacancies Sino-American Competition and European Strategic Autonomy appeared first on CSDS.

SINATRA examines to what extent the European Union (EU) autonomously makes decisions regarding its relations with the United States and China. To do that, it builds on the concepts of wedging (Crawford, 2008, 2011, 2021; Izumikawa, 2013) and binding (Nexon, 2009, Izumikawa, 2018) and presents a comprehensive theory to explain to what extent and under what circumstances external or internal actors have the upper hand in informing European policy choices in Sino-American competition. Specifically, the project seeks to examine how the United States and China conjugate inducements and coercion to influence EU policies – paying particular attention to their efforts to leverage intra-European divisions – and how powerful European actors try to repel external wedging efforts and preserve European cohesion.

The empirical analysis examines the degree of European cohesion and autonomy in three areas of external policy: one in which the EU enjoys exclusive competences (trade and FDI); a second where it shares competences with the member states (technology and infrastructure); and a third where member states are in charge (foreign and security policy). This distinction allows us to evaluate variation in the degree of European autonomy across policy areas.

The project draws on mixed methods research, combining quantitative analysis of European, American and Chinese voting patterns and public discourse (i.e. through the use of automated content analysis and manual coding) in a variety of international organizations and debates with qualitative analysis.

Within the above framework, PhD project proposals are invited to explore one or more of the following themes:

• Economic statecraft and great power competition.
• Sino-American economic competition, with a particular emphasis on trade, investment and infrastructure.
• Geoeconomics and European strategic autonomy.
• China’s strategy in Europe, and attempts to influence the policies of the European Union and/or its member states in areas like trade, investment, infrastructure.

PROFILE

• You must hold a Master’s degree in international relations, social sciences or law.
• You must be fully fluent in English (proficiency in Dutch and/or other official languages of the EU will be considered an asset)
• You must have a thorough knowledge of international affairs, public policy or European studies
• A background in economics will be a plus
• You must have experience in quantitative analysis (ability to work with a combination of python, stata and R is a plus but not mandatory)
• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

OFFER

We offer a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2023.

You will receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government. The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you are guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

HOW TO APPLY

Go to the dedicated VUB Page, HERE: https://jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-PhD-fellowship-Sino-American-Competition-and-European-Strategic-Autonomy/880473901/

Fill out the online form and send us your CV, letter of motivation (including a short research proposal of maximum 5 pages) and the highest degree you’ve attained (not applicable for VUB alumni). Deadline: 31/01/2023.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Natalia Martin at natalia.martin@vub.be.

The post PhD fellowships “Sino American Competition and European Strategic Autonomy” appeared first on CSDS.

SINATRA examines to what extent the European Union (EU) autonomously makes decisions regarding its relations with the United States and China. To do that, it builds on the concepts of wedging (Crawford, 2008, 2011, 2021; Izumikawa, 2013) and binding (Nexon, 2009, Izumikawa, 2018) and presents a comprehensive theory to explain to what extent and under what circumstances external or internal actors have the upper hand in informing European policy choices in Sino-American competition. Specifically, the project seeks to examine how the United States and China conjugate inducements and coercion to influence EU policies – paying particular attention to their efforts to leverage intra-European divisions – and how powerful European actors try to repel external wedging efforts and preserve European cohesion.

The empirical analysis examines the degree of European cohesion and autonomy in three areas of external policy: one in which the EU enjoys exclusive competences (trade and FDI); a second where it shares competences with the member states (technology and infrastructure); and a third where member states are in charge (foreign and security policy). This distinction allows us to evaluate variation in the degree of European autonomy across policy areas.

The project draws on mixed methods research, combining quantitative analysis of European, American and Chinese voting patterns and public discourse (i.e. through the use of automated content analysis and manual coding) in a variety of international organizations and debates with qualitative analysis.

Within the above framework, Postdoctoral candidates are expected to draft a short research proposal around one or more of the following themes:

• Economic statecraft and great power competition.
• Sino-American economic competition, with a particular emphasis on trade, investment and infrastructure.
• Geoeconomics and European strategic autonomy.
• China’s strategy in Europe, and attempts to influence the policies of the European Union and/or its member states in areas like trade, investment, infrastructure.
• US strategy in Europe

This position may include some teaching.

PROFILE

• You must hold a PhD in international relations, political science or economics.
• You must be fully fluent in English
• You must have a thorough knowledge of international affairs, public policy or European studies
• You must experience in quantitative analysis (ability to work with a combination of python, stata and R is a plus but not mandatory).

OFFER

We offer a 1 FTE contract for 12 months (extendable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the research activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2023.

You will receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government. At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

You will enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

HOW TO APPLY

Go to the dedicated VUB Page, HERE: https://jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-Postdoctoral-researcher-Sino-American-Competition-and-European-Strategic-Autonomy/880476801/

Fill out the online form and send us your CV, letter of motivation (including a short research proposal of maximum 5 pages) and the highest degree you’ve attained (not applicable for VUB alumni). Deadline: 31/01/2023.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Natalia Martin at natalia.martin@vub.be.

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