Monthly Newsletter | November 2024

Welcome to the November edition of the European Student Think Tank monthly newsletter – dedicated to sharing the relevant news and updates, publications, events, positions and opportunities from the EST.

Remember to also follow us on Instagram, Linkedin, X, TikTok, Facebook and Spotify Podcast to stay up to date on the latest news from the EST!

News & Updates

🗣️ NOTE from our PRESIDENT Olivia Serra Calvo: “We Are Back! New term, fresh board and important goals..”

“Hello ESTers! 👋

We’re back with a new term, a fresh board, and a lot of energy! 💪

I’m Olivia Serra Calvo, I’ve been part of the EST community for four years and I’m thrilled to be re-elected as EST President for a second term.

For those who don’t know me, I’m a young professional in the Communications field in Brussels, passionate about international relations, human rights, and civil society engagement.

The EST holds a special place in my heart – it’s an organization that saw me transition from student to young professional and helped me develop new skills and sharpen existing ones.

Now I want EST to keep empowering others. I envision it as a platform where students and young professionals can have a voice and a place to test, improve, and gain skills.

To make this vision come true, during this term my team and I plan to:

  • Establish strategic partnerships 👥🤝
  • Build a strong communication strategy, including website improvements and social media expansion 📢
  • Enhance the visibility and quality of our flagship activities: the European Policy Review (EPR), European Policy Prize (EPP), and EST Academy📃📚

Stay tuned – great things are coming!”

~ Olivia Serra Calvo, EST President.

👥 Introducing the European Student Think Tank BOARD for 2024/2025!

We’re excited to welcome some new faces and some familiar ones to the European Student Think Tank Board for 2024-2025! This team of dedicated and inspiring young leaders will bring fresh ideas, passion, and expertise across diverse fields, and together they’ll drive forward our mission to elevate youth voices in policy, research, and advocacy.

👤 Olivia Serra Calvo – President

👤 Annalisa Scaletta – Vice President

👤 Chrystaleni Tryfonos – Vice President

👤 Marten Wesebaum – Treasurer

👤 Siobhán Golden – Head of Communications

👤 Laura González Alonso – Head of International Office

👤 Anne Noël – Editor-in-Chief

👤 Luca Saviolo – Head of the EU-MENA Observatory

👤 Oliwia Borek – Working Groups Coordinator

🔗 Read more about the Board here

📱🎥 We are on TikTok now!

You read it right: we are on Tiktok – @esthinktank!

Are you passionate about European issues, International Relations, Policy 🌍 and eager to learn more about those topics in a fun, engaging and informative way?

If the answer is yes, follow the European Student Think Tank on TikTok and stay connected with current events, get behind-the-scenes access to policy events, meet our diverse team, and explore our latest research 📚🎥.

🔍 Our EU-MENA OBSERVATORY

Did you know??

We have an Observatory dedicated to highlighting the importance of the relationship between the EU and the MENA 🌍 region.

Our team 👥 of dedicated writers ✍️ :

  • conducts in-depth, multidisciplinary research on EU-MENA affairs 🌍📃
  • promotes dialogue on pressing issues 🗣️
  • fosters connections for exchanging ideas and building collaborative initiatives 🤝

Stay connected with our work through our 🔗podcast, bi-weekly 🔗newsletter, and regular updates across platforms.

Our most recent podcast episode discussed the recent elections in Tunisia. Check it out 🔗here!

Publications & Articles

📃The European Policy Review VOL. 7, Issue 1📃

For those of you who are new to the EST: the European Policy Review 📃 is the peer-reviewed journal published by the European Student Think Tank and dedicated to providing a platform for students interested in EU policy 📚.

Earlier this year, we were thrilled to announce the release of Volume 7, Issue 1 of the European Policy Review. This issue brings together 🧠 thought-provoking, student-written papers 📝 on a wide range of European Union policy topics, sparking critical 🗣️ discussions among young academics.

This year’s edition explores the existing and emerging threats that Europe faces in the short and long term, giving a platform to young researchers to present their analyses and engage with the public to offer new angles and solutions.

We invite you to explore 🔗this latest issue and dive into the discussions shaping the future of Europe.

Check it out to see what the next generation of policy thinkers have to say! 📢

📝🗞️ Our latest ARTICLES

Find here a list and a brief overview of our latest articles.

Click on the 🔗links to read the complete publications📃✍️!

  • “Beyond the Indicators: The Rise of Economic Inequality in Sweden”, written by: Oliwia Borek


Sweden is known for being one of the most equal countries 👩‍💼. What is there beneath the surface? The fact that economic divides are widening faster 📈 here than in any other Western democracy. What’s causing this shift and can Sweden’s social institutions hold the line?

🔗 READ IT HERE

  • “The European Green Deal is a turning point for Europe, but why did it anger European Farmers?”, written by: Wissal El Hamaoui

Considered “Europe’s man on the moon moment,” the European Green 🌱 Deal aims for a carbon-neutral continent by 2050. But as farmer 👨‍🌾 protests sweep Europe, is this green revolution igniting a backlash in the very fields it hopes to protect? And why?

🔗READ IT HERE

  • “Education as the Weapon against Human Rights Abuse”, written by: Maria Tsanova

How can we teach children 🧒 – the most vulnerable members of society and the next generation – to navigate an ever-complex world 🌎 ? Only one answer, only one word: with education 📚👩‍🏫. What’s the history of the right to education and how will it help to face future challenges?

🔗READ IT HERE

  • “The Role of Women in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation”, written by: Marina Muñoz Bernad

Does gender play a role in the field of peacebuilding? How and why? 👩‍💼

🔗READ IT HERE

  • “The Nature Restoration Law: A Significant Milestone or An Example of the EU Green Deal Losing Momentum?”, written by: Max Paarlberg & Maghnia Bouanati

As global biodiversity 🌱 drastically declines 📉, the EU’s new Nature Restoration Law targets ecosystem recovery by 2050, positioning Europe as a leader in global conservation efforts. It sounds like a great achievement, but not everyone agrees. Who and why?

🔗READ IT HERE

  • “Struggle for Conservation of Slovenian Minorities in Austria, Italy and Hungary: Why does Multilateral Action Matter?”, written by: Tina Pirnovar

Are the Slovenian minorities in Austria, Italy and Hungary truly protected? Protection law and policies exist, but are they adequately implemented? 🔎

🔗READ IT HERE

Events

The Sakharov Prize 🏆

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, first awarded in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko, is the European Union’s highest honour for human rights work.

Acknowledging individuals, groups, and organisations that defend freedom of thought and human rights, the prize supports their advocacy through recognition and a prize of €50000.

It is awarded by the European Parliament in a formal ceremony each year in Strasbourg.

🚨Stay tuned to find out how the EST will be involved in this key event!

See you next month, ESTers! 👋