The European Policy Centre (EPC) is launching the Connecting Europe Fellowship, an exciting opportunity for young professionals from EU enlargement countries to contribute their perspectives to European policy debates. This initiative is part of the Connecting Europe’s Thinking Enlarged initiative, which aims to meaningfully involve candidate countries in discussions about the future of Europe.<\/p>\n
The fellowship offers two three-month positions in Brussels for researchers and policy professionals from the Western Balkans, Turkey, and the Eastern neighbourhood. Fellows will have the unique opportunity to pursue independent research while engaging directly with EU policymakers and stakeholders.<\/p>\n
Fellowship Period:<\/strong> February to December 2026 (three-month placement)<\/p>\n Financial Support<\/strong><\/p>\n Professional Development<\/strong><\/p>\n Research & Networking<\/strong><\/p>\n We’re looking for early to mid-career professionals with:<\/p>\n Important:<\/strong> Applicants must have the support and commitment of their employing organisation to participate in the fellowship.<\/p>\n During your fellowship, you’ll develop a policy-focused research paper that addresses issues where EU policy and enlargement intersect. Your project should be relevant to both the EU and your home region, offering practical insights for policymakers.<\/p>\n We’re especially interested in projects focusing on:<\/p>\n Rule of Law and Democratic Resilience<\/strong> Green Deal and Climate Policy<\/strong> Digital Transformation and Data Governance<\/strong> Foreign Policy and Strategic Alignment<\/strong> Submit the following documents in a single PDF file<\/strong> to cv@epc.eu<\/a><\/strong> by December 4, 2025<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Important Formatting:<\/strong> Your application documents and email subject line must follow this format: CEFE_FirstName_LastName<\/strong>. Applications without this specification will not be considered.<\/p>\n Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.<\/p>\n The Connecting Europe Fellowship is awarded as a mobility grant for independent research. It does not constitute an employment contract or employer-employee relationship between the fellow and the European Policy Centre.<\/p>\n The EPC is committed to equal opportunities and values diversity. We particularly encourage applications from groups underrepresented in Brussels think tanks and European policy-making.<\/p>\n Connecting Europe is a project at the European Policy Centre funded by Stiftung Mercator. Since its establishment in 2017, it has grown into a network of over 65 organisations including research institutes, NGOs, think tanks, and fellowship programmes working across Europe.<\/p>\n The project connects civil society organisations with EU decision-makers and works to transnationalise EU policy debates, covering topics including rule of law and democracy, enlargement, climate change, digital transformation, and EU foreign policy.<\/p>\n Ready to bring your voice to Brussels?<\/strong> The EPC can support candidates with visa applications where applicable.<\/em><\/p>\n For more information please visit their website here<\/a><\/p>\nWhat We Offer<\/h3>\n
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Who Should Apply<\/h2>\n
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Your Research Project<\/h2>\n
Priority Research Areas<\/h3>\n
\nSafeguarding judicial independence, media freedom, and civic space in candidate countries<\/p>\n
\nAligning environmental goals and climate legislation with the accession process<\/p>\n
\nEnsuring digital rights, cybersecurity, and digital public infrastructure across borders<\/p>\n
\nEU enlargement in the context of global power shifts and regional security<\/p>\nHow to Apply<\/h2>\n
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About the Program<\/h2>\n
About Connecting Europe<\/h3>\n
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\nWe look forward to receiving your application and welcoming new perspectives into Europe’s policy debates.<\/p>\n