I am a fundamental rights expert and historian by training. I have been working for the European Commission since 2015, previously as Deputy Coordinator on combating Antisemitism and now as manager for funding programmes on EU values, fundamental rights and European remembrance.

I started my career in DG Education and Culture in the office of the Deputy Director-General. During my 6 years in the European Commission, I have worked in several different departments such as the Youth Policy Unit in DG EAC and the Asylum Policy Unit in DG HOME.

My job is very varied, ranging from presenting EU funding to civil society organisations and ministries, to shaping new funding mechanisms to support the work on combating racism, discrimination and antisemitism, to ensuring close alignment between our policy priorities on equality with the support we can give to stakeholders.

During my graduate degree in Jewish history at the Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, I spent an academic year as a fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I also hold a Master’s in European Studies from the College of Europe in Warsaw (Natolin). I am active in the largest pro-European youth movement, the Young European Federalists, formerly as the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I am an alumnus of the American Council on Germany’s Young Leaders’ Conference and contribute to their working group on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“Starting as a linguist and transitioning to an outreach officer, I use my humanities skills to shape communication at the Council of the EU. Critical thinking, creativity and a passion for languages turn complex policy into meaningful impact. Whether selecting words carefully or planning high-level events, each day is purposeful.”

“Working on EU trade policy towards China is a unique opportunity to engage with some of today’s most important economic and geopolitical issues. 

I appreciate the possibility to contribute to this complex and significant relationship, and to work with talented and motivated colleagues across the Commission and many of our delegations around the world on a daily basis.”

“I work to make the EU’s global engagement tangible — turning values into programmes that deliver opportunity and resilience. 

My daily motivation comes from promoting EU policies and values worldwide. With focus on peace and security, my role involves aligning engagements with real needs and Europe's interests, especially in fragile contexts. Contributing to this mission is highly rewarding.”

“I wasn’t exactly destined for a career in the European institutions, but the General Secretariat of the Council trusted me, invested in me, and let me grow into it — and I’m deeply grateful for that. 

Today I help drive cultural change in my organisation through participatory leadership, and it has shown me how powerful people can be when they’re trusted to think and create together. It’s meaningful work that still surprises me, in the best possible way.”

I joined the European Commission services in 2019, working as a policy officer at DG EMPL (Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion). I work in a geographical unit, which means I follow and monitor a specific country, Sweden in my case. Other colleagues in my unit monitor developments in Italy and Denmark.

My job is very diverse and challenging; and involves a combination of policy work (focusing on employment and social issues in the European semester) and programme management of the European Social Fund in Sweden.

The main working language in my DG is English, but since I focus on Sweden, I also work in Swedish. Other colleagues also work in the respective languages of the countries they monitor, my unit is quite multilingual!

I have a master’s degree in law, from Stockholm University. Before working for the European Commission, I worked for an advocacy and campaigning NGO in Brussels.

"I am Diogo and I work as a programme manager at European Social Fund Plus(ESF).
I was 21 years old when I had my first office job. Then, still at the private sector, I was not out at work and for a few months I made a point of it. With time, I gained more confidence in myself and since then I am proudly out to my colleagues. Why? Because it is not possible or admissible for me to live a double life. I started working for the European Commission in 2020 and my attitude was no different: I am open about myself and my family since the first day, and always felt welcomed. My work in the LGBTQI+ staff association Égalité made me realize that my experience is not true to everyone, and many colleagues still don’t feel comfortable in being their whole selves at work. Since I started I’ve seen direct policies to combat queerphobia and to make LGBTQI colleagues feel safe. There’s still work to be done, but I am happy to work for an European institution where the internal efforts match the external public policies put forward. And because I want all new comers to feel as safe as I did here, I will continue to push for more LGBTQI awareness and inclusivity.”