Head

Luca Saviolo

Luca Saviolo is the Head of the Observatory EU-MENA Relations and he is a young researcher at ISPI Africa Programme. Having majored in European External Relations, he holds a double MA in Policies and Governance in Europe at King’s College London and LUISS University and a BA with honours in Political Science at LUISS University. His research interests are closely related to EU external governance, climate and development in Africa and the MENA region.

Deputy Heads

Andrea Aznar Maciá

Andrea is a Deputy Head at the European Student Think Tank’s EU-MENA Observatory. She holds two bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Global Studies from Pompeu Fabra University. At the EST, she focuses on the relations between the Levant region and the EU, with a special interest in gender-related matters, migration, and human rights.

Hafssa Fakher Elabiari

Hafssa is the Deputy Head of the Observatory on EU-MENA Relations and the Head of the Levant+Türkiye regional desk. Her research interests include vulnerable populations and civilian behaviour in armed conflict. She hosts Decrypted, a bi-monthly podcast that simplifies complex topics in politics and history. Hafssa holds an MSc in Political Science from Leiden University, and a BA in International Studies from Al Akhawayn University.


Research Fellows

Fatin Boualite – Head of the Gulf-Iran Research Desk

Fatin Boualite is a recent graduate with a Specialized Master’s Degree in European Studies, focusing on Migration and Human Rights Policies from the Institute of European Studies at the Free University of Brussels. She currently serves as a Research Fellow and Head of the Gulf and Iran Desk, with a solid background in EU-MENA relations, stemming from her origins. Fatin is deeply interested in diplomacy and political relations between Europe and the MENA region. Additionally, she works extensively in the migration field and on broader European projects, contributing to policy and research initiatives.

Hannah Colpitts-Elliott

Hannah is currently pursuing a Research Masters in International Studies at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals. She holds a BA in International Relations and Politics from the University of Sheffield. Her research interests include gender, security and peace.

Michele Curzi – Research Fellow Gulf and Iran Desk

Michele Curzi holds an Erasmus Mundus master’s degree in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies. He is a research fellow of the EST’s Gulf and Iran Desk, focused on the Arabian Peninsula. His main research interests include EU Foreign Policy and EU-GCC relations, the Geopolitics of the Persian Gulf, and Energy security. He has a background in open-source intelligence and is passionate about the history of the MENA region.

Blanca Gonzalez Martinez

Blanca is a graduate student of Political Science at Sciences Po Paris and a research assistant at the Centre d’Études Européennes. She holds an honors Bachelor’s degree from Amsterdam University College. At the EST, she focuses on the relations between Tunisia, Egypt and the EU. She conducts research on political behavior in the context of deliberative democracy.

Valentina Gruarin – Head of Research North Africa and Sahel Desk

Valentina is a Research Fellow at the EST’s Observatory on EU-MENA relations, where she is also the Head of Research for the North Africa and Sahel Desk. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Political Science at the University of Catania in Sicily (Italy) where she develops her research project on the Euro-Mediterranean multi actorness. Valentina also collaborates for ITSS-Verona, managing research activities of the association’s UK and European Affairs Team. She has collaborated with other think tanks and presented her research to international conferences dealing with EU-MENA relations.

Alicia Kerekes Ispas – Research Fellow North Africa Desk

Alicia is a young graduate with a Master’s degree in International Relations, specialising in Europe and the Middle East. Her fascination with the MENA region developed during her bachelor’s degree in Global Studies at Pompeu Fabra University, where she took an Arabic language course. But a defining moment in both her personal and professional life, was her experience as an intern at the Spanish Embassy of Libya, displaced to Tunisia. Since then, she has known she wanted to dedicate herself to enhancing relations between Europe and its Southern Neighbourhood. Following her ambitions, she is now an Interreg Volunteer Youth in Interreg NEXT MED, supporting their actions for transnational cooperation across the Mediterranean. In sum, she has a strong interest in European neighbourhood policies, international cooperation, migration, and intersectional feminism.

Orjwan Mhanni

Orjwan Mhanni is a recent graduate of King’s College London, where she earned a BA in Politics. Born and raised in Tripoli, Libya, Orjwan’s interest in international relations and public policy was deeply influenced by her experiences during the Libyan Revolution.
She is currently volunteering and applying for Master’s programs in conflict, public policy and international development. Looking ahead, she hopes to work in international organizations and think tanks, shaping policies that promote stability and development in the Middle East and North Africa.

Laura Montes Alonso – Research Fellow North Africa and Sahel Desk

Laura is a Research Fellow at the EST’s North Africa and Sahel Desk. She holds a BA in International Studies from Carlos III University and a MA in International Development from Maastricht University. Currently working at the Council of Europe, her interests revolve around global development, sustainability, climate change, geopolitics and culture.

Giulia Pinna

Giulia is a student of International Relations and Organisations at Leiden University in The Hague, where she is also pursuing a Minor in Law, Culture, and Development. Her academic foundation is complemented by a keen interest in international law, human rights, and development. Raised in Doha with Italian roots, Giulia has cultivated a strong academic interest in Gulf dynamics and EU-MENA cooperation which she aims to develop further in her position at the Observatory.

Francesco Prencipe

Francesco Prencipe is a researcher with a strong academic and practical background in EU-MENA relations, migration policies, and refugee assistance. He holds an MSc in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, where he focused on the European Union’s agreements with MENA countries, specifically Egypt, Tunisia, and Lebanon. Francesco has hands-on experience in the Middle East, having worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Jordan and volunteered with organizations such as Caritas and UNHCR to support Syrian refugees. His professional experience also includes a role as a Digital Engagement Intern at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, where he focused on Middle Eastern politics and digital communications. Currently based in Cairo, Francesco is furthering his Arabic studies at the DEAC, the French Institute in Cairo. He is fluent in Italian and English, proficient in Arabic and French, and deeply passionate about creating stronger ties between the EU and the MENA region.

Communications Officer

Sibilla Gosso

Sibilla Gosso, originally from Italy, is now based in the Netherlands where she works as a Communication Officer for a local international centre. During her BA studies in History she developed a strong interest in the Middle East, which led her to further deepen her knowledge of the region with a Research MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Leiden University.
She has now joined the Observatory EU-MENA Relations to strengthen the communication team, bringing together her experience as Communicator Officer and her interest in the MENA region.

Communications Assistants

Clarice Agostini

Clarice holds a Bachelor’s degree in Diplomatic International Sciences from the University of Bologna and is currently completing a Master’s in Peace Research and International Relations at the University of Tübingen. With a focus on migration, particularly in the Mediterranean and the MENA regions, she is writing her thesis on the bilateral agreements between Italy and Libya regarding migration management. Clarice has gained extensive international experience, and her professional background encompasses European migration and climate policy, alongside communications and public outreach for NGOs and non-profit organizations.

Isabela Coradini

Isabela is a Communication Assistant at the European Student Think Tank’s EU-MENA Observatory. With a background in Law from the University of Porto, Isabela focuses on external communications and newsletter development to bridge socio-political topics between the EU and the MENA region. She brings expertise in research, strategic analysis, and content creation, contributing to fostering dialogue and deeper understanding in international relations. She’s passionate about International and European Law, focusing on themes such as Governance and AI regulamentation.