Job Summary:
The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Brussels Office is accepting on a rolling basis traineeship applications to help with its programming activities. Candidates must be eligible for Erasmus + program funding provided by their universities, or other similar grants through their governments/national institutions . Learn more about the Erasmus + funding opportunity by the European Commission here (http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm) and consult your university. It is the candidate’s responsibility to inquire with their university regarding eligibility prior to applying for the position.The German Marshall Fund of the United States_ does not bear any responsibility in initiating the Erasmus + funding procedure._
The trainee will work closely with senior GMF staff to provide research, logistical and administrative support. Trainees will be on flexible work plans where they assist multiple programs based on their background and interests and the program’s availability and needs.The traineeship is a unique opportunity to be in close contact with the international policy community. Trainees can benefit from the Brussels environment and attend various EU related events. Trainees will also receive insights into office administration, database and events logistics. Candidates must be eligible for Erasmus+ program funding, or other similar grants. Key Areas of Responsibility:
Providing administrative and operational support for the GMF Brussels office programing on issues pertaining to EU affairs, transatlantic relations and foreign policy;
Assisting in the organization and coordination of Brussels based events, as well as broader GMF convening activities;
Conducting background research and writing internal memos for various projects;
Preparing talking points and preparatory materials for GMF fellows and senior staff ahead of meetings and speaking engagements;
Helping maintain the Brussels office’s and relevant program’s database of contacts;
Assisting with administrative and logistical duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
Academic background in international relations and/or European studies, with at least a fully completed bachelor’s degree;
Strong interest in transatlantic policy issues;
Familiarity with European institutions desired;
Fluency in English. Second language skills in French, German or a third European language is a plus;
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) is essential;
Flexibility to multi-task, have an eye for detail, ability to perform under tight deadlines and work independently;
Previous experience in a think tank, foundation, NGO, government body, media outlet, or similar organization desired, but not required;
Experience in event management is a plus;
Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
*Start and Length of Traineeship:
GMF’s Brussels office offers three starting dates for traineeships:
January (Winter Selection) – Deadline for application: October 1
May (Spring Selection) – Deadline for application: February 1
September (Fall Selection) – Deadline for application: June 1
Candidates can only apply to one selection period at a time, to be explicitly mentioned in the application. All traineeships last 6 months. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only contact candidates of interest. GMF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Looking for a challenging internship in European External Affairs starting around January, February or March 2022. It’s time to apply!
Who are we?
At Unilever, we share one simple purpose: To make sustainable living commonplace. Through our powerhouse brands such as Dove, Axe and Magnum, we are creating a bright future for our business and our planet –and you can be part of it!
We believe that companies with purpose last, people with purpose thrive and brands with purpose grow. We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life.
Main purpose of theinternship:
We are looking to recruit an energetic intern in our European External Affairs Office in Brussels to support the team in driving this agenda at the EU institutions and other European stakeholders.
Working in the field of Foods & Refreshment, Home Care and Beauty & Personal Care – Unilever’s three core businesses – the intern will contribute to:
Performing background research and analysis on emerging issues;
Performing research and analysis on the position and activities of key stakeholders;
Monitoring regulatory, legislative and political processes of interest to Unilever;
Drafting advocacy materials, press reviews and organizing events.
The intern will have the opportunity to:
Be exposed to the functioning of a fast-moving and multi-sectoral international company;
Contribute to the challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability into our business;
Experience the importance of public affairs, both in terms of challenges and opportunities, for the achievement of Unilever’s vision: Doubling the size of ourbusiness whilst reducing our overall environmental impacts across the entire value chain;
Learn from a team of experienced public affairs practitioners, working on a wide variety of current and emerging issues;
Drive your own projects within the context of the European External Affairs team responsibilities, based on (developed) personal interest.
What we ask:
The internship must take place in the framework of a University degree, ideally a Master’s degree in European Law, International Politics, European Studies or equivalent
The intern must be registered as a student during the whole duration of the internship
English fluently written and spoken is a must, good knowledge of Dutch, French or German would be an asset
The internship would last for a duration of about 6 monthsfull-time(orat least 32 hours a week)
You are a team player with a strong sense of responsibility
You are a self-starter, able to work autonomously
You are able to work with a diversity of people and teams
What we offer:
An outstanding chance to bring our unique purpose to life!
An opportunity to take a look behind the scenes at one of the biggest FMCG-corporations in the world.
An opportunity to learn from a variety of concrete projects.
Lots of responsibility, but also good guidance during your internship.
EXCITED ABOUT THE ROLE?
To apply, please send your CV and a motivation letter where your preferred internship topics, internship duration and ideal start date are highlighted.
Writer: Hendra Manurung is currently a doctoral candidate in international relations at Padjadjaran University, Bandung
On March 22, 2021, the European Union has imposed sanctions on 11 top Myanmar military officials, including General Min Aung Hlaing who led the coup on February 1, 2021. The sanctions for Min Aung Hlaing are in the form of asset freezing, visa blacklisting and travel ban. Additionally, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities. Further, ten of the eleven persons targeted belong to the highest ranks of the Myanmar Armed Forces, known as Tatmadaw, including the Tatmadaw’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, and Deputy-Commander-in-Chief, Soe Win. The other is the new Chairperson of the Union Election Commission for his role in cancelling the results of the 2020 elections in Myanmar. The EU-27 makes it clear that nine other top military officers, as well as the head of Myanmar’s electoral commission, are on the sanctions list as well.
The leader of the military junta is directly involved and responsible for decision making regarding the function of the state, and therefore responsible for the destruction of democracy and the supremacy of the rule of law in Myanmar. Decisions made General Hlaing participate directly responsible for the brutal actions of the security forces that killed more than 700 demonstrators, including children and women.
The EU Council adopted a decision and a regulation establishing a global human rights sanctions regime on December 7, 2020. For the first time, the EU is equipping itself with a framework that will allow it to target individuals, entities and bodies including state and non-state actors, which responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide, no matter where they occurred. Such restrictive measures will provide for a travel ban applying to individuals, and the freezing of funds applying to both individuals and entities. In addition, persons and entities in the EU will be forbidden from making funds available to those listed, either directly or indirectly.
The framework for targeted restrictive measures applies to acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious human rights violations or abuses, e.g. torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions. Other human rights violations or abuses can also fall under the scope of the sanctions regime where those violations or abuses are widespread, systematic or are otherwise of serious concern as regards the objectives of the common foreign and security policy set out in the Treaty of the European Union Article 21.
The EU previous made-decision has prioritized that the promotion and protection of human rights remain a cornerstone and priority of EU external action. It reflects on how the EU’s determination to address serious human rights violations and abuses. While, On 17 November 2020, the Council approved conclusions on the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 which set out the EU’s level of ambition and priorities in this field in its relations with all third countries. In the EU Action Plan, the EU committed to developing a new horizontal EU global human rights sanctions regime to tackle serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. By adopting Adoption Plan, the Council reaffirms the EU’s strong commitment to further advancing universal values for all.
One of the EU policy instruments is to promote the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), by implementing restrictive measures or giving sanctions. This includes safeguarding EU values, its fundamental interests and security; strengthening and supporting democracy, rule of law, human rights and principles of international law; keeping the peace; preventing conflict and strengthening international security.
A country or population is not a specific EU-27 target but is much more focused on a specific policy-taken or activity, ways to do it, and those who are responsible for the policies that have been implemented by the country’s leaders. Hence, the EU makes every effort to minimize the consequences of its policies which have been detrimental to the civilian population and to activities or persons not sanctioned. Those have always been part of a broader and comprehensive policy approach that includes political dialogue, complementary measures, and are not non-punitive measures.
The EU-27 countries periodically conduct a review of the sanctions that have been imposed. The renewal, amendment and lifting of sanctions made by the EU are finally decided in the European Union Council Session. Restrictive measures imposed by the EU may target governments of third countries, or non-state entities, e.g. companies, and individuals (such as terrorist groups and terrorists). For a majority of sanctions regimes, measures are targeted at individuals and entities and consist of asset freezes and travel bans. The EU can also adopt sectoral measures, such as economic and financial measures, e.g. import and export restrictions, restrictions on banking services) or arms embargoes (prohibition on exporting goods set out in the EU`s common military list. At least, there are 3 given sanctions by the EU, including 1) Sanctions imposed by the UN which the EU transposes into EU law; 2) the EU may reinforce UN sanctions by applying stricter and additional measures e.g. vis-à-vis DPRK (related to the non-proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction on July 30, 2020); 3) the EU may also decide to impose fully autonomous sanctions regimes e.g. vis-à-vis Syria (related to restrictive measures against Syria human rights violations on April 3, 2017), Venezuela (related to the continuing deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and human rights on November 13, 2017), and Ukraine (related to misappropriation of state funds of Ukraine on March 3, 2014)/Russia (sectoral restrictive measures related to Russia’s actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine on 1 July and 19 December 2016; 28 June and 21 December 2017; 5 July and 21 December 2018; 27 June and 19 December 2019; 29 June and 17 December 2020).
So far, according to Brussels, the European Union has implemented all sanctions that are fully compatible with its obligations under international law, including those concerning respect for universal human rights and guarantees of fundamental freedoms.
The violence and human rights violations in Myanmar since the military coup on 1 February 2021 have disregarded international legal norms and universal human rights values. ASEAN as the only regional organization in Southeast Asia so far had not been able to do anything in order to ensure political stability and security in Myanmar. Hereinafter, ahead of the ASEAN leaders’ meeting in Jakarta on April 24, 2021, to discuss the current hot topical issue of political stability and the democratization process of Myanmar which is likely to determine the future of democracy in the Southeast Asian country which borders China. There are more than 700 civilians, including children, who have died as a result of military violence. The junta responded to peaceful demonstrations against the military coup on February 2021 with rifle shells. Military forces violence has not discouraged pro-democracy activists. The threat of bullets shooting did not scare them. Protesters, mostly young people, continue to organize demonstrations. Strikes as resistance to the coup continued.
On 28 February 2021, Indonesia has expressed a stance regarding the development of the situation in Myanmar, by issuing a statement: 1) Indonesia is very concerned about the increasing violence in Myanmar which has caused casualties and injuries; 2) Deep condolences to the victim and his family; 3) Indonesia calls on the Myanmar security forces not to resort to violence and to exercise restraint in order to avoid more casualties and prevent the situation from worsening. The anti-coup movement is also supported by a number of armed ethnic militias in the border area, which is a form of sympathy for the loss of civilian casualties in mass demonstrations in various Myanmar cities. Previously, in November 2020, at the ASEAN Summit, ASEAN foreign ministers invited the US President from the 2020 general election to maintain peace in Southeast Asia. The ASEAN Ministerial Meeting is held virtually ahead of the 37th ASEAN Summit from 12 to 15 November 2020, hosted by Vietnam.
Various countries and non-state actors are worried that Myanmar’s internal problems will likely become like Syria. The civil war was protracted, with the civilian death toll increasing, followed by an increase in the number of refugees to neighbouring countries. Myanmar is currently one of the top five sources of refugees in the world. According to the UN high commission for refugees, there are around 1.9 million refugees from Myanmar. As for Syria, it occupies the top position with 6.6 million refugees in 2019.
Henceforth, in responding to the worsening political conditions in Myanmar, there is no other choice for the international community, including ASEAN regional organizations to act proactively as quickly as possible, especially in making decisions and commitments that are planned, measured, directed, decisive, and have an impact on political stability and Myanmar national security. The European Union and the United States have indeed imposed economic sanctions on figures and state companies involved in the recent military coup.
ASEAN together with Indonesia must take a central role in optimizing efforts to resolve the Myanmar problem, given the endless violence, a military junta that is completely reluctant to reduce repression on civilians, and the need for the international community to develop a more assertive and sustainable strategic plan. The communication activities with military junta leaders are only a means of reaching a solution to the crisis. The main thing is how to seek the willingness of ASEAN as a solid regional organization together with the EU, China and the US, to immediately formulate coordinated and targeted policies, so that the military junta will stop killing Myanmar people.
Writer: Hendra Manurung (Hendra Manurung is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in international relations at Padjadjaran University, Bandung)
Indonesia attempted to boost the potential for cooperation with four Visegrad countries on 8 October 2019. The Visegrád group which is called the Visegrád Four or V4 is a sub-regional organization of Central Europe which consists of four countries, namely Czech, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.
The Visegrad countries group cooperation began on 15 February 1991. The V4 group is substantially formed to further strengthen economic and political integration within the European Union.
Vice Indonesia Foreign Minister, Fachir stated at the 2019 Indonesia-Visegrad Group Business Forum in Serpong, 17 October 2019, in the sidelines of the 2019 Trade Expo Indonesia: “Strong relationship among the Indonesian and V4 business actors will affirm Indonesia’s existence in the region that is deemed strategic as a trading hub that connects West Europe, Central Europe, and East Europe.” (https://kemlu.go.id/).
Business forum activities are one of the priority programs of President Joko Widodo’s vision to further strengthen economic diplomacy.
The economic interaction between Indonesia and the Visegrád region so far is still very limited, even though with an average economic growth of above 4 percent, the countries in this region have great potential for cooperation.
The prospect of cooperation with Visegrád countries is considered to be more promising with their rapid economic growth at an average of 4.1 percent, far above the average economic growth of the European Union (EU) which is approximately 2 percent.
The combined economic size of the V4 countries is equivalent to that of the 5th largest economy in Europe, and through the Visegrád Group, these four countries have an increasingly prominent bargaining position within the EU.
The magnitude of the economic potential of Central Europe has not been fully explored by Indonesia. For this reason, the Indonesia-Visegrád Business Forum will be an excellent opportunity for Indonesia to learn about and take advantage of opportunities for economic cooperation in the four countries, as well as to find solutions to some of the challenges it faces.
However, both sides keep optimistic and positively regarding the value of exports and imports between Indonesia and the V4 countries that accumulatively kept increasing during the last five years (2014-2019), with bilateral trade volume reaching US$ 1 billion in 2018.
In mid of October 2019, the business forum held and attended by 55 Indonesian companies and 48 companies from Visegrad countries which emphasize several elements that could be synergized continuously, namely technological advances, labor, and market size.
The business forum activities were then filled with business matching events between Indonesian entrepreneurs and V4 countries, most of who are engaged in food, apparel, assembly, information technology, pharmaceuticals, human resources, energy, and infrastructure.
It can be done through increasing Indonesian manufactured products export. The volume of trade that has been achieved between Indonesia and the four Visegrád countries is equal to US$ 1 billion US dollars in 2018 (Antaranews.com, 8/10/2020).
Suppose Indonesian entrepreneurs and V4 countries’ strong partnership will further strengthen Indonesia’s foothold in the European region. Visegrad is considered strategic as a trade center hub connecting Western Europe, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe.
The Indonesian government also encourages the labor and technology services sector to be developed in economic cooperation with Visegrad countries.
This relation also aims to enhance cooperation in the sector indicated by the signing of six memorandums of understanding (MoU) by the Indonesian company and its partners from Visegrad, for the provision of professional and skilled labor on the sidelines of the Business Forum Indonesia-Visegrad in 2019.
Increased sector cooperation was represented by the signing of six memorandums of understanding (MoU) by Indonesian companies and their partners from Visegrad, to provide a professional and skilled workforce.
At the signing of the MoU, everything was about human resources related to work services due to Visegrad countries necessary.
As a group whose economy is driven by the industrial sector, including the automotive and shipbuilding, the four Visegrad countries, especially Hungary and Poland which had been employing workers from Indonesia.
The number of Indonesian workers, so far, is still small, only reaching hundreds of people. However, Indonesian workers are considered to have advantages over a number of workers who come from other ASEAN countries.
In general, Indonesian workers are considered to have a good character who is more loyal and professional, and a number of companies that employ them in Poland and Hungary are more comfortable with the presence of Indonesian workers in their countries.