“Stinging nettles operating from bunkers, get ready! It’s time.”

Stinging nettles operating from bunkers, get ready!

It’s time.

You know how it goes: be as mean as possible, no comments on the substance. Gender, looks, background, that’s it. Be chauvinistic. Sexist. Nationalistic. Primitive.

Make sure you incorporate manipulation and lies. Grammar is not important, love are country. Insult. Be vulgar.

Ready, set, go!

Recently, there has been a surge in hateful comments. Also under my posts. This is clearly happening because the European elections are coming up, and a certain faction of politics is eager to post comments from a bunker. With clear instructions.

What is the objective? To provoke hatred, or at least a certain degree of doubt. If only these comments offered valuable criticism that I could learn from, but instead I can only brush them aside. And report them, of course. Because I am not inclined to work in this manner. Because there is no point in explaining anything to the authors. They are not interested. In fact, this has nothing to do with me, the issue is much wider. But perhaps it has something to do with them… Because if their feelings are genuine, life probably isn’t easy for them.

This week, the agenda of the European Parliament’s plenary session included a debate on combating the normalisation of far-right and far-left discourses including antisemitism. To be frank, efforts to ensure a balanced approach by considering “the far right and far left” are overly simplistic.

Extremes, by their nature, carry various nuances. Not everyone is a fascist, although they may harbour a certain degree of hostility, nationalism, paranoia. A more accurate, more realistic title would be “the normalisation of the populist discourse by right-wing hardliners”. The new right wing. The one embodied by Janez in Slovenia, Viktor across the border, and Donald overseas. But the problem is that the normalisation of discourse automatically leads to its acceptance, resulting in a situation where the pace of our action is dictated by dangerous populist demagogy,­ at least in some areas.

Unfortunately, in recent years, such normalisation has not only taken place at the level of the discourse of anonymous people, but increasingly also in politics. Even in the European Parliament. I have addressed colleagues on this matter, and you can watch the recording below. In order to score cheap political points, representatives of the moderate centre-right are increasingly forming alliances with their more extreme colleagues, and this is reflected in many things. From attempts to tear down environmental legislation to the deliberate incitement of fear, discomfort and nationalism.

They aim to stir up feelings of hatred to offer a solution to the problem they created themselves. Although the levels of intensity vary across the globe, the tactic is the same. In parallel with normalising and accepting extremes and hostility, the media, the judiciary or political rivals are conveniently portrayed as enemies of the state (read: the bunker). This way it is easier to deal with them and to strengthen own power. In order to come to power or stay in power. In pursuit of their own interests and those of their cronies.

It is up to us, those of us in the centre, who are aware of these facts, to reject such rhetoric upfront and not make any concessions to paranoid populists in our policies and actions. While the normalisation of discourse is concerning, the normalisation of embracing hostility, nationalism and ideology built on lies in (European) politics is even more problematic.

Regrettably, the values of decency and truthfulness no longer serve as restraints for these people. They simply take advantage of the opportunities available to them. And target-oriented commentators operating from their bunkers, sorry, online, have become one of the main modi operandi.

We must not normalise this. We must not accept it. We’re dealing with opportunists who know very well what they are doing. They work for various people and to achieve various objectives, but not to benefit you. Unfortunately.

You can keep attacking and slandering me, I know you will. But I will nevertheless work harder than your online and political mentors in search of solutions that will not least serve you. I accept you as human beings (let’s just assume you are), but I do not accept your hostility.

– Irena

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“A subtle but clear message that nature restoration is urgent.”

On Wednesday, 13 September, MEP Irena Joveva took part in a discussion entitled “A strong and resilient EU in response to the challenges of the future”, organised on the occasion of the final State of the Union address during this term of office – SOTEU 2023 – given by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.  In her reaction, MEP Joveva assessed that the President’s speech was mostly a review of past achievements, yet that certain elements were missing, including in the areas of health, migration and the rule of law. Referring to the Green Deal, the MEP observed that a lot has been achieved with the Fit for 55 package, and emphasised von der Leyen’s subtle but clear message that nature restoration is urgent.

Joveva initially pointed out that looking back on accomplishments of the current term is not necessarily a bad thing to do in a speech, yet she found the vision as outlined by the Commission lacking exactly that – vision and details.

“As a member of the younger generation, I missed the mention of young people in the speech. True, the President said that young people hope for a better future, but we all know that,” she said. Moreover, the healthcare sector was not given adequate consideration, particularly in light of the beneficial measures implemented after the pandemic and the establishment of the Health Union. Moreover, in Joveva’s view, migration was only mentioned in passing, alluding to the urgency of adopting a pact on migration and asylum, even though it is she, as President of the European Commission, who can talk to Member State government representatives, especially those who have been blocking this legislation all along.

By contrast, MEP Joveva praised the fact that Commission President had accentuated the environment and the implementation of the Green Deal.

“A lot has been done with the Fit for 55 package, and she mentioned the nature conservation legislation that was adopted by the Parliament,” she said. She addressed it in German, presumably not by chance. Perhaps also because the President of the European People’s Party is German and leads the party that has had a great deal of dissent concerning this legislation.”

When asked about unity and cooperation, Joveva responded that these are absolutely essential and welcome, yet will be more and more difficult to achieve as the elections draw closer and certain politicians resort to more and more political game playing.

“The speech was not visionary enough, at least in the areas where this is necessary. At the same time, I hope that the enhanced dialogues that were announced and mentioned become a reality. It is my sincere wish that everything she said comes to fruition and does not remain just talk.”

You can watch the speech by the President of the European Commission and MEP Joveva’s contribution to the debate HERE.

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“It is so important to be part of the European Union.”

On Saturday, 2 September, MEP Irena Joveva took part in a discussion at the Summer School organised by the Freedom Movement’s Youth Section (Gibanje Svoboda Mladi). They talked about her priorities and key activities, including efforts to end practices that discriminate against Slovenian on digital platforms, the European legislation on media freedom, and the recent floods in Slovenia and the EU’s response. “Events like this demonstrate how important it is to be part of this community,” said the MEP.

In particular, Joveva praised the rapid engagement and response of the European Commission. It is precisely for such cases that the European Solidarity Fund has been set up, she explained, adding that it has been utilised by Member States on numerous occasions and its deployment is increasing. Due to climate change natural disasters are occurring more and more frequently and on a larger scale, she noted.

“Natural disasters demonstrate how important it is to be part of the EU and to have such solidarity programmes in place.”

The young audience were also interested in the details of the letter sent by MEP Joveva and MEP Klemen Grošelj to the responsible European Commissioners regarding budgetary adjustments. As Joveva elucidated, the procedures within the European institutions are protracted and complex, but in many situations this could be remedied. In the case of the European budget, for example, the current rigid systems will have to be loosened; it seems that such disasters will become more frequent and a certain degree of flexibility in the allocation of resources will be inevitable in the future, she said.

“Member States ought to have a greater capacity to adapt in the event of such unforeseeable yet serious and catastrophic events. Slovenia’s priorities and needs have changed, so it is crucial to allow at least some flexibility in the use of EU funds.”

When asked about her recent activities regarding the use of Slovenian on digital platforms, the MEP replied that starting her term of office, she did not think she would pay so much attention to the Slovenian language, but she realised that it is an issue of great relevance which remains unresolved. We talk a great deal about linguistic diversity, equality of all the official languages of the European Union, however, in reality this is not the case, she declared.

“In fact, the digital world and the physical world have become one, they are no longer separate at all. Quite possibly, the digital world will become increasingly prominent, therefore the official languages of the European Union must become truly equal in the digital world as well. Discrimination is not an option, and I do not buy or accept the excuses of the multinationals.”

She stressed that she was doing everything in her power to ensure that her calls for the use of Slovenian in the digital world are heeded. At national level, the situation is being resolved through the amendment of the act on the public use of the Slovenian language, while at the European level, she proposed or supported amendments to the European Media Freedom Act, for which she is rapporteur on behalf of her political group Renew Europe, which aim to ensure that all official languages of the Union are used and respected.

“Under the existing European legislation, say in the case of Netflix, which is based in the Netherlands, the company is only subject to Dutch law and accountable to Dutch regulators. We want to change the European legislation in such a way that the competence of, for example, Slovenian regulators can be transferred to their Dutch counterparts, who could require Netflix to put an end to infringements in Slovenia or any other Member State.”

Moreover, the MEP added amendments to the Digital Services Act (DSA), which has just entered into force, that apply to digital giants such as Meta or Twitter. She highlighted the example of content moderation on these platforms when certain information is incorrect or the new advertising rules have been breached. Currently, such alerts only work well in major languages such as English. “One of my contributions to this regulation is that such alerts should be published in all EU languages, without discrimination. And the people who will be checking and writing this information must have a good understanding of the language. Thus, in the case of Slovenian, this should be checked by people who are proficient in our language.” She submitted a similar amendment to the aforementioned Media Freedom Act, which has been the focus of her recent work. “Not least because of the rise of artificial intelligence, it is simply necessary to have someone who then checks these generated texts, translations of news, posts or videos.”

The MEP concluded the discussion by considering the future of the European Union. In her view, the current term has been very turbulent, and challenges remain in many areas. At the same time, she believes that the profile of the European Parliament should be raised and the institution made more transparent.

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Remember, my dear friends, …

Remember, my dear friends, …

… when we could follow content on, say, Facebook and Instagram in the order it was posted, rather than in the way “someone else” decided for us? Well …

Finally, we will be able to do so again! And that’s partly my ‘fault’. As of today, all major online platforms in the European Union must adhere to the rules that have quite rightly been made stricter, this being one of them.

Show me your ‘feed’ and I’ll tell you who you are. The online world is presented to us exactly as the algorithm dictates. Each of us receives a different presentation, based on our personal data that is sold to whoever is willing to pay the highest price. We are the product, and the algorithms know exactly who should be offered what. Unfortunately, they also know who is more susceptible to conspiracy theories, disinformation and deception.

With such a system it is easy to manipulate people and voters, to systematically spread conspiracy theories to sell illegal, harmful products, to shamelessly use hate speech, and even to incite violence, which, unfortunately, often results in violence in real life. This system is abused by those who exploit people’s fear, frustration and anger for their own particular interests; those who wage a culture war on the media and the ghosts of the past. This system (deliberately) undermines trust in experts and people with authority, reduces the quality of public debate and civility, and, worst of all, makes it impossible to tackle the really pressing problems affecting people.

The Digital Services Act was a necessary response to this system. It introduces obligations with respect to algorithmic transparency, indicating the origin of advertising, especially political advertising, and rectifying [AS1] misleading information, and sets clear rules for moderating content online.

I covered the report on this legislative act as rapporteur for my group, Renew Europe, in the Committee on Culture. It was therefore my task to table amendments, set the voting indications for the group and negotiate with the rapporteurs from other groups on the final text in the form of joint, compromise amendments.

This was followed by inter-institutional negotiations which finally led to the act’s adoption, making it binding for the entire European Union. What did I aim (and succeed) to achieve with my amendments to the text on advertising?

As a user seeing a particular advertisement, platforms must inform you why this particular advertisement was chosen for you. Most importantly, you should not be subject to targeted advertising by default, UNLESS you have given your prior consent. So pay attention to the changes that Meta and TikTok (and anyone else) have announced to date, and decline to be shown content based on algorithms if you don’t want that. Now it is possible!

In addition, companies will have to ensure that targeted advertising using sensitive personal data such as sexual orientation, ethnicity or political opinions is not possible. Targeted advertising to minors is prohibited.

I also thought it was important that you have the possibility to make your own decisions about the data you share and to set the algorithm parameters yourself. In other words, that you can actually choose how the ‘world is presented’ to you.

Of course, in this, too, it is important to distinguish between legal, illegal and harmful content. Legal content should not be removed, and platforms should not be held responsible for its removal. Illegal content, however, is currently divided into three types: child sexual abuse material, terrorist content and copyright. All of them are covered by specific legislation, and the Digital Services Act now provides for horizontal rules.

I was strongly opposed to the content being checked exclusively by automated systems, algorithms or artificial intelligence. That is why, throughout the text, I added (and was successful in my endeavour) that content blocking must necessarily be subject to human supervision.

Last but not least, an element that is particularly important in the context of my fight for the Slovenian language: I added that the online giants must respect the language of a Member State and employ moderators who can speak its language, in our case Slovenian. I am sure these multinationals can afford to do that.

We need to know who is behind the content we see on social networks, and we must have the power to control our own identity.

Irena

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”Being flexible, including regarding the use of EU funds, is vital in times of crisis”

On Thursday, 10 August 2023, MEPs Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj wrote  to European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni asking for further EU action in response to the floods that hit Slovenia. In their letter, they stressed that in the event of natural disasters, the EU should allow countries to reallocate EU funds according to need and urgency.

The MEPs began by describing the disastrous circumstances and aftermath of the worst floods in the history of Slovenia. They highlighted the extraordinary scale of the floods, inundating two thirds of Slovenia, which resulted in billions of euros worth of destruction and unfortunately, loss of life. They called on the European Commission and the responsible commissioners to augment the Union’s assistance in dealing with the consequences of this natural disaster.

“We must help our citizens in this common effort and demonstrate the Union’s resilience and responsibility by rapidly providing all available basic assistance to the vulnerable community. Ensuring an even faster and more effective Union response to unpredictable crises would contribute significantly to a more resilient and sustainable future for our continent.”

They expressed gratitude for the support voiced by European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, during her visit to Slovenia, and for the assistance pledged, but also stressed that in such difficult times, the whole European Union is being tested. In their view, it is the duty of the European institutions to adapt where necessary and to provide the help that people urgently need.

They therefore proposed that, in the event of severe natural disasters linked to climate change, Member States should be able to reallocate or reassess the use of a certain part of the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) in order to provide sustainable disaster relief and mitigate the consequences, subject to clear rules and principles.

“Providing flexibility for the affected Member States so that they could redirect a certain amount of the RRF resources towards sustainable recovery and climate change resilience would be an important step towards mitigating the effects of such extreme weather events and strengthening our collective response to climate change.”

According to the two MEPs, it is essential to adapt national recovery and resilience plans and existing programmes to the urgent needs of the affected Member States – especially when other resources earmarked for disaster mitigation at EU and Member State level have already been committed. This, they stated, would facilitate Slovenia’s recovery and strengthen the belief of its citizens in the EU’s good intentions.

“The current situation in Slovenia shows how urgent it is for the Union to demonstrate its commitment to the prosperity of its citizens by offering much-needed support in such challenging times.”

You can read the Slovenian version of the letter here.

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Joveva for l’Opinion: ”We must find a common mechanism for climate solidarity”

The EU must find a common European mechanism to ensure climate solidarity on the continent and beyond, MEP Irena Joveva underscored for the French newspaper l’Opinion. The discussion focused in particular on the need for a new system of solidarity between Europeans in the face of climate disasters in Europe, including the recent catastrophic floods in Slovenia. The article was published on Thursday, 10 August 2023, and you can read a summary below.

The French newspaper reporter observed that the devastating and tragic floods in Slovenia have captured attention across Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Slovenia on Thursday, 9 August 2023, and pledged support and financial assistance for the affected areas. L’Opinion reported how this year, northern and central parts of Europe are experiencing overwhelming floods, while the southern half of the continent is battling unrelenting fires after the warmest July on record, both on land and in the Mediterranean Sea.

“We need to find a common mechanism for climate solidarity in Europe. My country’s disastrous event should serve as a reminder to those leaders or decision-makers who are against augmenting financial aid, since there will only be more such incidents in the future. We need to be better prepared and not just accept the status quo by saying: ‘This isn’t my problem, so I don’t have to help. Climate change affects all Member States in one way or another,” Joveva told the newspaper.

During her visit to Slovenia, Commission President von der Leyen promised an advance payment of €100 million this year, and next year Slovenia will be entitled to another €300 million. In the medium term, Slovenia could potentially receive up to €2.7 billion more under the European Recovery Fund for national reconstruction and climate change adaptation. The EU is also ready to reprogramme up to €3.3 billion of Slovenia’s cohesion funds intended for economic development.

Given the increasing number of natural disasters across the Union, the Solidarity Fund of €1.2 billion per year is proving insufficient and will require a new strategy for better preparedness in the future. During her visit to Slovenia, the Commission President also praised the enormous solidarity of the Slovenian people.

“The swift response of the EU and our allies is testimony to the fact that the EU is genuinely based on solidarity,” Joveva affirmed to l’Opinion.

Read the full article in French here.

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”European solidarity is our shared value”

On Wednesday, 9 August 2023, MEP Irena Joveva attended the National Assembly meeting, which was addressed by President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Joveva stressed that solidarity is a shared European value.

In recent days, Slovenia has been hit by its worst natural disaster in decades. The relentless floods and their aftermath have caused immense damage, including, unfortunately, loss of life. President von der Leyen visited our country together with the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, expressing solidarity and support. Together with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, they visited the hardest-hit areas in Gorenjska, Savinjska and Koroška regions. The visit was primarily aimed at finding solutions so that the European Union can most effectively help and support the reconstruction of the affected areas.

“At such a sad time for everyone in Slovenia, any help is welcome and I am glad that the European Union and other allies have responded so generously. People need support and it will be urgently needed for some time to come.”

At Slovenia’s request, the European Union immediately mobilised assistance through the Civil Protection Mechanism and sent a representative to the Slovenian Civil Protection Headquarters to coordinate the EU’s help on the ground. In addition, the Copernicus satellite system is being deployed to monitor flooded areas and landslides.

“We have to help as best and as much as we can. I believe that every single one of us is doing the very same. I don’t want to imagine what the situation would be without the help of so many volunteers. Any help is useful, and it is truly a silver lining that the good will of the Slovenian people really knows no bounds in times like this. The European solidarity shown every day by our fellow citizens, and all the help we have received in Slovenia over the last few days, is a common value that we all share.”

President von der Leyen promised Slovenia a grant of €100 million from the EU Solidarity Fund this year and €300 million next year, when damage assessment and the speed in applying for funding will be key. Slovenia currently has €2.7 billion in loans available from the European Recovery Fund, but in this respect, too, time will be of the essence, which is why a joint working group has already been set up to enable Slovenia to draw these funds. The European Union will also be as flexible as possible to allow Slovenia to redirect 3.3 billion of cohesion policy funds that can be used until 2027 for flood relief.

“A lot of help is coming from Europe – in the form of human, material and financial resources. For the latter, I believe that the government of Robert Golob will really make every effort, as it is already doing, and actually use it in a comprehensive and targeted manner to help the Slovenian people.”

In this difficult time, we are witnessing remarkable solidarity, compassion and sacrifice in our country. All of Slovenia is united in dealing with the aftermath of the disaster.

“But we will need to do more in all areas, from flood protection and prevention schemes to empowering volunteers and being kinder and less destructive to nature. We cannot do without our fellow human beings, we cannot do without nature, but nature can do without us. We need to remember this in all our next steps.”

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Joveva for Liza Maja magazine: ”Promises are one thing, actions another – and I am a woman of actions.”

Just before the summer break, MEP Irena Joveva gave an interview to Liza Maja magazine, which was published on Thursday, 3 August 2023. In it, she touched on reconciling politics and family life, her insistence that companies respect the Slovenian language, the soon-to-be-adopted European Media Freedom Act and her other priorities. If you want to know what motivates her, what her approach to work is and who she has most in mind when fighting for a better future for the coming generations, then read the summary below.

”All three of them, always. All of them have shaped me and fulfilled me, allowed me to do what I love doing, what I believe in,” Joveva responded to the initial question of which of the careers she would put first: that of a journalist, a politician or a mother.

”In journalism, I loved getting to the bottom of a story, but now I’m pushing “from the inside”. With legislation, amendments, public appeals, like the one in the letter to the CEO of Apple.”

When asked how she juggles work commitments and family, she said that she takes it one day at a time, underscoring that that she is neither the first nor the last politician with a family and that this should not be deemed unusual in 2023.

”I don’t want this to sound trite, but in everything I do I always have her future in the back of my mind. I cannot fix everything that is wrong with this world as an MEP, unfortunately, but I can and I do try to change it for the better at least in some areas. Hoping that one day my daughter will be proud of everything I do.”

Regarding her latest initiative to fight for the accessibility of Slovenian in the digital world, she explained that things are moving forward. She pointed out that it is not only speakers of Slovenian who are being ignored, but especially all blind, visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing people who continue to be marginalised through linguistic discrimination by multinational companies.

“And in the end: those of us who speak a foreign language… So what if we do? It is our right and our choice to use our mother tongue. This is why I wrote to the big companies present on our market, and did so in Slovenian. People supported my initiative, including Slovenian professionals in the field.”

The MEP met with respective company representatives and declared resolutely that she will closely monitor the progress – that she will stay on their case  and at the same time propose specific legislative solutions. She acted on her promise as a Renew Europe rapporteur on the European Media Freedom Act, where she advocated that a provision be added to the text to govern streaming content providers operating in the EU market.

”We cooperate in different fields, why shouldn’t inspection services cooperate as well? The idea is that an inspector in Slovenia could ask their counterpart in another Member State, where, say, Netflix is based, to resolve an issue. This would result in the legal transfer of competences, to put it simply. Slovenian is and will continue to be one of the official languages of the European Union. If it cannot be done the easy way, then we will have to use pressure and legislation to ensure that our language is respected by all companies present in our country.”

She emphasised the significance of this act for public information, as well as the media’s role in holding up a mirror to politicians so that they act responsibly. She stressed that she was not talking about the outlets engaged in propaganda, but the credible and objective ones.

”If the freedom of the media falls, democracy falls. And when democracy falls, we are in trouble. Unfortunately, this has already happened in several countries, including in Europe. I have personally met representatives of both the government and the media in, say, Poland and Hungary, and believe me when I say that we do not want to live in a society of enforced conformity.”

Finally, she touched on her activities within the Renew Europe group and in the European Parliament in general, where she sits on a number of committees. These include the Committee on Culture and Education, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. Within the latter, Joveva recently became Vice-Chair of the new Subcommittee on Public Health, where one of her priorities is mental health.

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“Talk about mental health and shatter the stigma.”

A social label attributed to someone for being different, usually unjustified: stigma.

A state of physical and mental well-being, non-impaired functioning of the body and mind: health.

Unfortunately, stigma also affects health. Especially mental health. Stigma discourages people from seeking help in time. It leads to social exclusion, which worsens an already alarming situation even further.

Due to stereotypes about mental health issues and disorders, mental health is kept hidden and isn’t talked about. However, as the definition states, health not only signifies physical, but also mental well-being. This is not something we are sufficiently aware of, and the fast-paced, crazy world of (too-) high expectations and filters is not doing us any favours in this respect either.

This is where (co)decision-makers have to step in too. As Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Public Health, I am advocating for two key issues:

– to ensure that all young people with mental distress or disorders receive accessible, free and timely help, which is a crucial first step in successfully tackling their difficulties;

– to ensure that both the authorities and all other stakeholders raise the level of awareness about mental health issues.

It is critical to talk about mental health and thus shatter the stigma that is still associated with it. Each of us has difficulties in our lives, we all experience and deal with them differently. What is important is that they are actively addressed.

– Irena

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My work has been fascinating and highly dynamic.

I’m sitting on the sofa thinking. I’m thinking about the experience that has just come to an end, yet is constantly on my mind. My two-month traineeship has gone by in the blink of an eye. Not long ago, I was standing in front of the main entrance of the European Parliament in Brussels, where I was “picked up” by Irena’s assistant Žana, who led me through a maze until we arrived at the offices where I settled in comfortably and familiarised myself with my new working environment. The initial week was rather calm and I used it to get to know the city in miniature, as I like to describe the Parliament, as well as my new colleagues.

I was a bit nervous before arriving in the European capital, as it is not every day one embarks on a traineeship in an institution like the European Parliament.

However, I soon realised my unease had been completely unnecessary as I very quickly found my place in the team, who are relaxed and always ready to help. And so began my work, which has been fascinating and highly dynamic from start to finish. There were days or weeks when there was a little less work, but this was soon evened out by another week when the workload was significantly higher. This variation is closely related to what is going on in the Parliament. During the ‘green’ weeks, when MEPs are generally in their respective countries, there is not as much work as when, for example, they are attending committee or political group meetings in Brussels, let alone during plenary weeks. But not to worry, I always managed to get all the work done. Being a trainee in Irena’s office doesn’t mean you are chained to a computer. I have had the opportunity to follow political group and committee meetings and, of course, plenary sessions. Through this process, I became familiar with the contents of many different documents, which covered topics such as the media, environment, and health, to name just a few. I also had the opportunity to listen to important guests from other European institutions, as well as heads of state and other distinguished personalities. My work included preparing content for social networks and assisting in the official photo-shoot of the MEP. I even took some photos of Irena myself as she was attending meetings or giving a speech at a session. Another memorable experience was when representatives of the European Roma Community visited the Parliament for a meeting with the MEP. I welcomed them and accompanied them to the meeting, and later I escorted them to the European Commission premises, where I assisted with translation during their discussion. As you can see, the work is never monotonous and as a result of the variety of tasks I was been given I have gained a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills.

Walking through the Parliament’s corridors on my way to a meeting or simply to have lunch in the canteen, I was captivated by the sheer number of people of many different nationalities speaking many different languages, which I tried to recognise and understand. On one such occasion, I had a pleasant surprise. I was walking past the media centre, which is available for Members to record statements, and I ran into a huge crowd of people. Bigger than usual. I successfully made my way through and then I noticed that it was the Parliament’s President, Roberta Metsola, who was recording a statement. That was the reason for all the commotion. Prior to my traineeship, I would never have thought that I would have a chance to stand less than a metre away from the President. This is just one of the thrilling things that can happen in the Parliament, and such coincidences make the traineeship even more exciting. But the Parliament is not merely a place for political muscle-flexing, for meetings and office work. On the ground floor of the main building, you can find all kinds of services. Next to the canteen and other food shops, there is a dry cleaner, a hairdresser and a newsagent where you can buy postcards or drop off parcels. In fact, this floor looks more like a shopping centre than a European institution.

Just before the end of my traineeship, I got to attend a Strasbourg plenary. I must say, it was a remarkable experience, quite distinct from the rest of my traineeship in Brussels. In France, the nature of the work is different. Not so much in terms of my duties as a trainee, but with regard the whole dynamic of everyone there. The corridors of the Parliament’s building in Strasbourg are even more vibrant and confusing and even more packed with people rushing to political group meetings or to voting sessions in the plenary chamber. There really is not much time to rest, because the agenda is full of thought-provoking debates. If, despite the signs, you get lost as a trainee, don’t worry. Most of the people I spoke to assured me that they still manage to get lost, even after repeated visits to the institution. Despite the long working days, there is time for a visit to the city. Strasbourg captivated me completely and is very different from the Belgian capital. It is smaller, more homely and, above all, much cleaner. The little houses in the heart of the city are quite charming and the huge baroque cathedral is breathtaking. It is a must-see during the day and in the evening when the lights of the city come on, which adds to the charm. There is a river boat from the city centre to the Parliament several times a day. I also recommend tasting a traditional tarte flambée.

And if I return to Brussels for a while, it is evidently not only home to European institutions and the political wrangling. Even though not many will agree, I find the Belgian capital just as beautiful and interesting to explore. It is true that it has a reputation of grey and sour weather. That is why it is all the more wonderful making the most of every ray of sunshine on a work-free day. Apart from all the famous landmarks such as the main square and Manneken Pis, I was struck by the abundance of parks, where I often went for a stroll or spent time socialising with other trainees I met while in Belgium.

The regional cuisine may not be extraordinary, but there are plenty of restaurants from all over the world to fill the stomach. Did you know that French fries supposedly originate from Belgium rather than France as the name suggests? You will be able to savour truly outstanding French fries, often paired with a vast selection of sauces all of which you cannot sample in only two months. And heaven forbid I should omit to mention the excellent waffles and Belgian chocolate. Other than that, I preferred to stick to the tried-and-tested dishes. Brussels is also a great starting point for day trips/. The public transport permits you to escape and explore other, more idyllic cities around the country over the weekend. I would suggest Brugge, Ghent and the less familiar Dinant which nevertheless deserves a visit. There is never a dull moment in Brussels, and the decision about how to spend free time depends purely on one’s interests.

I would like to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to everyone who kept an eye on my work and put up with my queries and lack of knowledge. My sincere thanks to MEP Irena for the opportunity and the warm welcome to her team. Even though I was certain that Irena is a laidback and amiable person, I was positively surprised by her humanity. She and all her colleagues really made me feel equal, as a full member of the team.  Thank you to the assistants Žana and Rok from whose invaluable knowledge and familiarity with the legislation I was able to constantly learn something new. Last but not least, a big thank you to Elma, who let me share her office, for all her good humour and positive energy and, of course, for all the advice, guidance and suggestions she was most happy to share during my two months on the job. Thank you, Elma, for keeping a watchful eye on me and making sure that I fitted in smoothly and without any difficulty. Thank you also to the local assistants Jasna and Tilen. If it weren’t for you, my experience would have been much less exciting and insightful, so thank you all very much, you really are a great team.

Finally, this experience has been unparalleled and unforgettable. It was an adventure that will stay with me forever. To all of you who may be thinking about applying for a traineeship, I urge you to do so. Forget about fear and uncertainty, be bold and step out of your comfort zone – you won’t regret it.

– Domen Bajde

 

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