Head

Clarice Agostini

Clarice holds a Bachelor’s in Diplomacy from the University of Bologna and a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Tübingen, where she focused on peacebuilding, migration policy, and EU–MENA relations.

She works at the intersection of international affairs and communications, with experience across diverse settings, including international organisations, NGOs, and non-profits. At the European Parliament, she supported institutional communication on EU policy issues, and she currently works at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), where she contributes to policy analysis and strategic outreach.

Contact her via email observatoryeumena@esthinktank.com or via LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/clarice-agostini

Deputy Heads

Alicia Kerekes Ispas

Being born in Barcelona in a Romanian family placed her at the intersection of multiple languages and cultures from an early age, shaping her values and ambitions. She recently graduated in International Relations, specialising in Europe and the MENA region. Having studied in Barcelona, Bologna, Tunis, and Istanbul, she has developed a strong commitment to cooperation across the wider Mediterranean. In this context, she completed an internship at the Spanish Embassy of Libya and became an Interreg Volunteer Youth within the Interreg NEXT MED Programme. She is currently working in an NGO, managing international projects and promoting international mobility among local youth. Her main interests focus on European Neighbourhood and cohesion policies, migration dynamics, intersectional feminism, and questions of culture and identity.

Hannah Colpitts-Elliott

Hannah is a Deputy Head at the Observatory on EU-MENA Relations and part of the Levant and Turkiye regional desk. She is a recent graduate in a Research Master’s in International Studies from the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals, where she specialised in intersectional feminist research on activism in repressive contexts. She holds a BA in International Relations and Politics from the University of Sheffield. Her research interests include gender, security and peace.


Research Fellows

Michele Curzi – Head of the Gulf-Iran Desk

Michele Curzi holds an Erasmus Mundus master’s degree in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies. He is the head 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 and culture of the MENA region.

Mohammad Mohseni – Research Fellow in Iran and Gulf Desk

Mohammad Mohseni is a PhD student in European Studies at the University of Ljubljana, focusing on EU–MENA relations with a particular emphasis on Iran. He graduated from the ARQUS Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies at the Universities of Leipzig, Vilnius, Granada and Graz, where he researched digital governance and EU energy policy. Mohammad has previously worked with several international research institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the International Society for Human Rights, and Impact Circles e.V. His academic interests include EU foreign policy, political discourse, migration, governance, and the political dynamics of the Middle East.

Clara Joy Lazzeri Barcelo – Researcher at the Gulf-Iran Research Desk

Clara Joy works as a Research Assistant for the Gulf and Iran regional desk within the European Student Think Tank’s EU–MENA Observatory. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations with a minor in European and Foreign Policy Studies, as well as a master’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies. Through her academic background, she has specialised in the analysis of geopolitical, security, and resource-related conflict issues in the MENA region. She also brings practical experience in research, policy analysis, communication, and advocacy through roles in international NGOs, youth-led organisations, and research institutions. She is motivated to contribute meaningfully to the EST’s EU–MENA Observatory by providing accurate research and policy analysis on developments and key issues in the Middle East, particularly relating to the Gulf and Iran region.

Valentina Gruarin – Head of Research North Africa and Sahel Desk

Valentina Gruarin is a researcher and PhD student in Political Science at the University of Catania (Sicily, Italy). Her research focuses on Mediterranean politics and EU–MENA relations. Her doctoral project examines multi-track diplomacy, advocacy, and knowledge networks in the context of EU–Mediterranean cooperation. She is Research Head of the North Africa and Sahel Desk at the Observatory for EU–MENA Relations. She has collaborated with and published for international research institutes, including the Institute for studies on the Mediterranean (CNR-ISMed ), the University of Catania, the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip). She holds a Master’s degree in European and Global Studies from the University of Padova.

Romane Gornet – Research Fellow North Africa and Sahel Desk

Romane is a member of the Sahel and North Africa Research Desk at the EU-MENA Observatory. Born in Paris, she grew up in Singapore and Tokyo between ages 3 and 11. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (Honours) from McGill University. During her undergrad, she wrote for the student press and conducted archival research for her professor’s book on political assassinations in colonial Africa. Now based in Dakar, Senegal, she works for a free-entry feminist African film festival. Professionally, she specializes in project management and external relations for non-profits. Her research interests include colonial legacies, human rights, migration and cooperation in EU external relations. In her spare time, she enjoys photography and dance.

Jordi Reo Estevez-Garcia – Researcher Sahel Desk

Jordi Reo is a policy-oriented youth professional with a strong focus on Africa–Europe relations, youth participation, and inclusive governance. He holds a Master’s degree in European Political and Economic Integration and has professional experience working with African Union structures, particularly within youth, programme management, and partnership frameworks. Jordi has lived and worked across multiple African and European countries, giving him a transregional perspective on policy challenges and opportunities. His work bridges policy analysis, youth advocacy, and institutional dialogue, with a particular interest in marginalised youth, democratic governance, and sustainable development. He is actively involved in youth-led policy initiatives and contributes to EST’s work on values-based, evidence-driven policymaking.

Francesco Prencipe – Head of the Levant-Türkiye Research Desk

Francesco is Head of the Levant–Türkiye Research Desk at EST, where he leads analysis on political, security, and migration dynamics across the Eastern Mediterranean and Türkiye. He graduated with an MSc in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, following a background in political science. His work combines field experience and policy research, with a strong focus on EU–MENA relations, refugee protection, and regional governance. Francesco has lived and worked across the Middle East and Europe, including in Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia, and has collaborated with organizations such as UNHCR, Jesuit Refugee Service, and EU institutions. He speaks English and Italian fluently, with professional proficiency in Arabic and French.

Beyza Karataş – Researcher as part of Türkiye-Levant Desk

Beyza has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and an M.A. degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe. Her focus lies on the EU, Türkiye, and the wider Mediterranean region. She is an early-career researcher covering political and security developments across the EU-MENA space. Her research involves media monitoring and regional analysis, and she has a keen interest in the intersection of politics, culture, and public discourse, including the region’s film, arts, and music scenes. Beyza is a member of the Türkiye Research Desk of the EST EU-MENA Observatory and contributes public-facing analysis to the organization’s newsletter.

Laura Montes Alonso – Researcher

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 an MA in International Development from Maastricht University. After previous volunteering and professional experiences with different NGOs and cooperation agencies in Algeria, Tunisia, and Belgium, she is currently working at the Council of Europe (Strasbourg). Her interests revolve around global development, sustainability, climate change, geopolitics, and culture.

Isabella Ece Yazici – Researcher Desk Member

Beyza has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and an M.A. degree in European Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Europe. Her focus lies on the EU, Türkiye, and the wider Mediterranean region. She is an early-career researcher covering political and security developments across the EU-MENA space. Her research involves media monitoring and regional analysis, and she has a keen interest in the intersection of politics, culture, and public discourse, including the region’s film, arts, and music scenes. Beyza is a member of the Türkiye Research Desk of the EST EU-MENA Observatory and contributes public-facing analysis to the organization’s newsletter.

Communications Officer

Jesse Woche – Communications Officer for the Observatory on EU-MENA Relations

​​Jesse Woche is a communications and advocacy professional specializing in human rights, violence prevention, and community engagement. She has worked across the United States and Europe, with experience spanning policy research, digital communications, community-based violence intervention, and political organizing. Jesse’s recent work in Texas focused on gun-violence prevention, coalition coordination, and legislative strategy, giving her a deep understanding of governance, security, and civil-society mobilization. She holds a Master’s in Human Rights and Multi-level Governance, with graduate research centered on armed violence and state accountability. Based in Italy, Jesse brings a globally informed perspective, strong analytical skills, and a commitment to rights-based, people-centered policy.

Communications Assistants

Sarah Maria Loiodice

Sarah Maria Loiodice graduated with a Master’s degree in Modern Languages for International Communication and Cooperation from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, Italy. She specialized in Arabic language and culture, with a strong focus on the Middle East and North Africa, and especially on matters of migration, identity, and media narratives. She completed the CASA Fellowship at the American University in Cairo, where she participated in an intensive academic program on Arabic language and culture. Her work currently lies at the intersection of translation, research, and communication, with a particular interest in cultural issues, social inequalities and Euro-MENA relations.

Nicole Cobio

She holds a Master’s degree in Languages and Cultures for International Cooperation and Communication from the University of Milan. Through the EU’s ESC Humanitarian Aid programme, she served as a Communication Support Officer in Jordan, where she developed storytelling content, supported awareness campaigns, and collaborated with local partners to enhance community engagement. She has contributed to NGO and international projects focused on mobility, protection, and intercultural dialogue, combining fieldwork with strong communication and coordination skills. Her work reflects a commitment to strengthening evidence-based narratives and fostering constructive engagement between the European Union and the MENA region.