From stealing the spotlight to detecting fraud to maybe even meeting that special someone – a wide range of incentives for getting involved emerged when we met with our new Stage Committee and Court of Auditors.
But all nine of this cosmopolitan and multilingual bunch are keen to get as many of you as possible involved in stagiaire life. They're full of enthusiasm and new ideas and are itching to take over from the Liaison Committee and get started. We found out about their plans and priorities for the coming four months and what makes them tick…
But all nine of this cosmopolitan and multilingual bunch are keen to get as many of you as possible involved in stagiaire life. They're full of enthusiasm and new ideas and are itching to take over from the Liaison Committee and get started. We found out about their plans and priorities for the coming four months and what makes them tick…
Stage Committee
Athinangela "Angela" ChatzidmitriouGeneral Coordinator
24, Greece, Cabinet of Maria Damanaki
The girl with the most ridiculously complicated name will be the General Coordinator of this summer's Stage Committee. Luckily she prefers to be called Angela instead of Ant… Athn… well, the long version.
This sociable young lady is a Political Science and Human Rights graduate and wants to make use of her coordination skills as part of the Stage Committee. According to Angela, we can expect a lot of parties and trips (including one to the country taking over the presidency later this year, Poland), not forgetting more intellectual events such as seminars and conferences.
Angela will be able to communicate with you in six languages (Greek, English, French, Spanish, German and Italian) but watch out – she’s interested in psychology and will also do her best to read your mind!
Eduardo del CampoTreasurer
26, Spain, DG Education and Culture
Eduardo, working as a trainee in the Traineeships Office, says he will provide stagiaires with insider knowledge and act as a link between his workplace and the Stage Committee.
Of becoming Treasurer he says “no-one wanted to be Treasurer”, but he’s nonetheless enthusiastic about the role and has lots of ideas. He wants to introduce a fairer way of dealing with sub-committees, with maximum and minimum budgets and standard budget guidelines, and to encourage sub-committees to raise their own money, rewarding them for doing so.
But Eduardo isn’t just about the rules; he describes himself as “dynamic, spontaneous and funny” and spent a month in Ethiopia camping next to a river alongside hippos and lions, as well as time motorcycling through Vietnam.
André Salgado Paula SantosPR Coordinator
26, Portugal, DG Budget
André’s priority as PR Coordinator is to get as many stagiaires as possible involved and engaged in the activities on offer. He sees the role as an opportunity to really participate in stagiaire life and to help fellow trainees by promoting not only fun events and trips but also more educational activities such as conferences.
He claims to have seen every movie ever made (it was film night and we learnt that he’s seen ‘La vita è bella’ about ten times...) and once tried to do 20 shots in one hour – but managed only 18... And the message he most wants to get out to his fellow stagiaires?
“You could also put that I’m single!”
Tessa FinchEvents Coordinator
23, UK/Luxembourg, DG Human Resources and Security
Her friends say she's too energetic – we say she's perfectly suited to her position as an events coordinator! Having organised varied events - from a classical music concert to climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro – she’s sure to organise the parties of our lifetimes.
“Obviously the organisation of events will be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to making people enjoy themselves and to offering something to look forward to and remember in years to come,” she assures.
If you have party themes in mind, Tessa says she is open for suggestions. Events in which as many people as possible can get involved are favoured over those that will appeal to only a limited number of people.
Radoslav SothTrips Coordinator
22, Slovakia, Cabinet Maroš Šefčovič
Radoslav considers himself ‘European’ rather than Slovakian and it’s hardly surprising: he was born in Prague; raised in France and Romania; and his surname, which has Austrian origins and is written in Hungarian, means ‘Scottish’.
At 22, Radoslav is the youngest member of our new Stage Committee but he’s already got plenty of experience – in fact he’s currently acting as President of the European Commission representation at the European G8 and G20 Youth Summits. Maybe we have a contender for this year’s ‘Most likely to be the next Barroso’ category...?
As Trips Coordinator, Radoslav wants to take trainees’ ideas into account to organise as large a spectrum of trips as possible – from cultural excursions to beach trips.
Denisse HalmSub-committees Coordinator
23, Germany/Uruguay, DG MARE
In her newly-created role of Sub-committees Coordinator, Denisse wants to help the sub-committees with the organisation and coordination of the best activities.
“I think that the subcommittees can complement the activities of the Stage Committee to make the stage a wonderful and varied experience for all stagiaires,” she says.
For Denisse, who describes herself as “risk-taking, curious and nomadic”, the Careers Fair is a priority and she’s hoping to organise a comprehensive fair with several organisations and industries represented. When asked about the craziest thing she’s ever done, Denisse responds: “Moving to some of the rainiest places in Europe (Belgium and the Netherlands)!”
Court of Auditors
Athanasia "Nasia" KanliAuditor
24, Greece, European External Action Service
Nasia’s attraction to positions of responsibility earned this young lawyer a place in the Court of Auditors. With her stubbornness and sense of responsibility she says she's able to tackle any possible problem that she might encounter.She says she sometimes has trouble getting to know people because of her strict look (nah, can't see it in the photo!), but we assure you: she is totally lovely!
Nasia's internal motive for taking part in the Court of Auditors is to convince herself that the new generation of young Europeans gets involved, is responsible and handles money the way it is supposed to.
Siavash ShamskoAuditor
26, Iran/Germany, DG Competition
This Iranian-turned-German decided to take part in the Court of Auditors to gain an insight into the auditing process. He has a background in law and confesses not to have much knowledge about auditing, but he’s there to learn and swears he’ll do a good job. Or as he jokes:
“It will be hard but luckily I have two colleagues who are experienced - I will let them do the hard work and get all the praise myself!”
Jokes aside, Siavash is greatly involved and currently working on auditing the activities of the Liaison Committee. When asked about his personality he says that he might get a little impatient sometimes, but that he's working on it!
Auditor
25, Spain, DG Competition
The last but certainly not least position in the Court of Auditors belongs to Alex, a Spaniard who laughs about being most excited about possibly detecting fraud. This law graduate is experienced in auditing after working with his dad on a family business, and sees the Court of Auditors as an opportunity to get involved and use the knowledge he has.
“It has been fun to work for this Stage Committee thus far and I'm sure it will be excellent for the following four months,” the self-proclaimed "normal kind of guy from Spain" concludes.
Carly Price, EPSO and Taru Itäniemi, DG EAC
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