I question the view that there are so few people with an EA mindset in the European Commission. In particular in the health-related and environmental directorate-generals, you find (and could find for decades) quite many very idealistically motivated persons that are not really different from EA persons, though maybe not being aware of the EA movement. The high percentage of persons with an EA-like mindset was the reason why some of the idealistically motivated persons even went into other directorate-generals to make more of a difference. The downside of this approach is that you will live more cultural frictions in these other directorate-generals. These frictions can reach the level of harassment. If you try to conceal your values, you have to play a role which is unhealthy for yourself and sometimes also for the team. And sooner or later the colleagues find out anyway. (I personally chose a middle-way, but still had to pay for it.)
There are two research-related directorate-generals that do also quite some important work. One of them (JRC) offers additional entry points for scientists.
Working for the secretariats of the committees of the European Parliament or for the parliamentary groups can also be very interesting, if you landed in the right committee. The work for the Council secretariat in the legislative areas is sometimes even more powerful, subject to your knowledge on legislation and your character. Some strong Council officials I saw were really driving their legislative files, but most had only a minor to medium important role.
Some EU careers started in other, often not so influential institutions. But once you have the status of a life-time official in any of them, you can move to the three interesting institutions referred to above. This path has a price, too: you sacrifice a few years.
For all jobs dealing with legislation, check the training video and Handbook “How to regulate?” on www.howtoregulate.org and further knowledge collections on that website. Soon to come: EU Legislators’ Toolbox, btw also useful for lobbyists.
I question the view that there are so few people with an EA mindset in the European Commission. In particular in the health-related and environmental directorate-generals, you find (and could find for decades) quite many very idealistically motivated persons that are not really different from EA persons, though maybe not being aware of the EA movement. The high percentage of persons with an EA-like mindset was the reason why some of the idealistically motivated persons even went into other directorate-generals to make more of a difference. The downside of this approach is that you will live more cultural frictions in these other directorate-generals. These frictions can reach the level of harassment. If you try to conceal your values, you have to play a role which is unhealthy for yourself and sometimes also for the team. And sooner or later the colleagues find out anyway. (I personally chose a middle-way, but still had to pay for it.)
There are two research-related directorate-generals that do also quite some important work. One of them (JRC) offers additional entry points for scientists.
Working for the secretariats of the committees of the European Parliament or for the parliamentary groups can also be very interesting, if you landed in the right committee. The work for the Council secretariat in the legislative areas is sometimes even more powerful, subject to your knowledge on legislation and your character. Some strong Council officials I saw were really driving their legislative files, but most had only a minor to medium important role.
Some EU careers started in other, often not so influential institutions. But once you have the status of a life-time official in any of them, you can move to the three interesting institutions referred to above. This path has a price, too: you sacrifice a few years.
For all jobs dealing with legislation, check the training video and Handbook “How to regulate?” on www.howtoregulate.org and further knowledge collections on that website. Soon to come: EU Legislators’ Toolbox, btw also useful for lobbyists.