YEL provides aspiring leaders with innovative forms of engagement to directly connect with experienced decision makers from all sectors. YEL has a rich history of hosting influential European policy makers, including the Vice President of the European Commission Kristalina Georgieva, the Prime Minister of Belgium Elio Di Rupo, the Deputy Director of the International Organization for Migration HE Ambassador Laura Thompson, the Council of Europe Head of the Brussels Liaison Office HE Ambassador Torbjørn Frøysnes, the Presidents of the European Committee of the Regions Michel Lebrun and Markku Markkula, Members of the European Parliament, or all G20 Sherpas of the European Union since 2012. Please find below a list of guests and speakers YEL had the pleasure to host or connect with during its activities.
Go directly to 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012
Guests and Speakers 2016
| Name | Background and YEL Event |
|---|---|
| Ms. Kristalina Georgieva | Vice-President and European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, European Commission Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 |
| Ms. Renate Nikolay | Head of Cabinet for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, European Commission Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 |
| Mr. Antoine Kasel | G20 Sherpa, Cabinet of the President, European Commission Received the European Union delegation twice in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Markku Markkula | President, European Committee of the Regions Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 and 2015 |
| Ms. Dagmar Schumacher | Director, Brussels office of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, United Nations Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 |
| Mr. Stephan Raes | Head Economic Department, Dutch Permanent Representation to the European Union Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Geran Kaai | Head of the Security and Justice Department, Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the EU Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 |
| Mr. Guy Stessens | Head of Unit, Police and Customs Cooperation, Council of the European Union Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Ms. Francesca Di Mauro | Head of Unit for Central Africa, European Commission – DG DEVCO Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Ms. Sonia Wollny | Head of the Secretariat of the Conference of President, European Parliament Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Ms. Salla Saastamoinen | Director of Civil and Commercial Justice, European Commission – DG JUST Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Paul Nemitz | Director of fundamental rights and Union Citizenship, European Commission – DG JUST Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Brando Benifei | Member, European Parliament Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Massimiliano Paolucci | Head of Brussels Office, World Bank Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 |
| Mr. Jamie Shea | Deputy Assistant Secretary General at North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Dirk Klaasen | Trade Counselor, Dutch Permanent Representation to the European Union Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Ryan Heath | Senior EU Correspondent and Associate Editor, POLITICO Guest to the Eat & Meets in Brussels November and 2016 |
| Ms. Katarina Nevedalova | Responsible for Cohesion Policy & EU Outermost Regions, Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 |
| Ms. Jasna Marić Krajačić | Press Officer – European Youth Event Unit, European Parliament Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Anis Cassar | Press Attaché, Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Leonardo Quattrucci | Policy Assistant to the Head of the EPSC, European Political Strategy Center (EPSC) at European Commission Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Ricardo Borges de Castro | Foreign Policy Adviser, European Political Strategy Center (EPSC) at European Commission Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Jan-Martin Frie | Policy Analyst (Economics Team), European Political Strategy Center (EPSC) at European Commission Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Jon Nyman | Member (with focus on G20 issues) of Commissioner Malmström’s Cabinet for Trade, European Commission Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Luca Rossi | Programme Officer, Regional Office for Europe at UNISDR (The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction), United Nations Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Chris Kendall | Political Counsellor for Strategy and Communications, European External Action Service Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. François Gorget | Policy Advisor for Education, Youth and Sport, French Permanent Representation to the European Union Received the European Union delegation in line with the Y20 Summit 2016 |
| Mr. Fabian Zuleeg | Chief Executive and Chief Economist, European Policy Centre Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Ms. Joanna Maycock | Secretary General, European Women’s Lobby Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Ms. Caroline Hickson | Regional Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Mr. Fraser Cameron | Director, EU Asia Centre Guest to the dinner Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
| Ms. Judit Tanczos | Legal Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Group Guest to the lunch Eat & Meet Brussels November 2016 |
Guests and Speakers 2015
| Name | Background and YEL Event |
|---|---|
| Mr. Markku Markkula | President, European Committee of Regions Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2016 and 2015 |
| HE Mr. Ambassador Torbjørn Frøysnes | Head of the Brussels Liaison Office, Council of Europe Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2015 |
| Mr. Henri Malosse | (Former) President, European Economic and Social Committee Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2015 |
| HE Ms. Ambassador Laura Thompson | Deputy Director, International Organization for Migration Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2015 |
| Mr. Michel Servoz | Director General, European Commission, DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2015 |
| Mr. Alexandre Paquot | Head of Unit, European Commission, DG CLIMA (Monitoring, Reporting & Verification) Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2015 |
| Ms. Jean Lambert | Member, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013, and guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Mr. Ryan Heath | Senior EU Correspondent and Associate Editor, POLITICO Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Mr. László Andor | (Former) Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Ms. Iverna McGowan | Acting Director, Amnesty International European Institutions Office Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Ms. Ulrike Storost | Teamleader, European Commission, youth employment team in the Commission’s DG Employment Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Ms. Kavita Ahluwalia | Manager, EU Representative Office at E.On Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Ms. Valeria Ronzitti | Secretary General, European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services (CEEP) Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Ms. Marie Donnelly | Director, European Commission, DG Energy (renewable energy, research and innovation, energy efficiency) Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Ms. Claire Fernandez | Deputy Director, European Network Against Racism Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Mr. Rodrigo Ballester | Member, European Commission, Cabinet of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Mr. Gabriele Sospiro | Director, European Centre for Economics, Policy Analysis and Affairs Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Mr. Fergus Green | Policy Analyst & Research Advisor to Professor Stern, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (London School of Economics and Political Science) Guest to Eat & Meet London April 2015 |
| Ms. Esther Maughan McLachlan | Director of Communications and Networks, Forum for the Future Guest to Eat & Meet London April 2015 |
| Mr. Orivaldo Barros | Director of International Development, BRE Group Guest to Eat & Meet London April 2015 |
| Mr. Matthew Tod | Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Guest to Eat & Meet London April 2015 |
| Mr. Sia Houchangnia | Portfolio Analyst, Seedcamp Guest to Eat & Meet London April 2015 |
| Ms. Maria Åsenius | Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y20 Summit 2015 |
| Mr. Guntram Wolff | Director, Bruegel Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y20 Summit 2015 |
| Mr. Richard Szostak | G20 Sherpa, Cabinet of the President, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y20 Summit 2015 |
| Mr. Jānis Bērziņš | Spokesperson, Permanent Representation of Latvia to the European Union Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y20 Summit 2015 |
| Mr. Pekka Hakala | Head of Unit, DG External Policies, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y20 Summit 2015 |
| Dr. Wolfgang Merz | Head of Division, Europe Department at the German Federal Finance Ministry Guest to the Eat & Meet Berlin March 2015 |
| Mr. Matthias Wächter | Director General, Centre International de Formation Européenne Guest to the Eat & Meet Berlin March 2015 |
| Mr. Oliver Hänsgen | Public Relations Adviser, EU Information Office in Germany Guest to the Eat & Meet Berlin March 2015 |
| Mr. Dragos C. L. Preda | Senior Advisory Consultant, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Romania Guest to the Eat & Meet Bucharest October 2015 |
| Mr. Radu Magdin | Transnational Consultant, Smartlink Communications S.R.L. Guest to the Eat & Meet Bucharest October 2015 |
| Ms. Corina Murafa | Independent Energy Expert, Bucharest, Romania Guest to the Eat & Meet Bucharest October 2015 |
| Mr. Ciprian Stanescu | Global Shaper, World Economic Forum, Bucharest Hub Guest to the Eat & Meet Bucharest October 2015 |
| Ms. Georgiana Cosoveanu | Governmental Affairs Manager, The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson Guest to the Eat & Meet Bucharest October 2015 |
| Mr. Klaus Hullmann | Administrator, European Committee of the Regions Speaker at Young European Council 2015 |
| Ms. Adelaide Pinto | Directorate-General Communication at the European Commission Speaker at Young European Council 2015 |
| Mr. Ludo Tegenbosch | Directorate-General Communication (focus on Migration and Home Affairs) at the European Commission Speaker at Young European Council 2015 |
| Mr. Michal Tratkowski | Directorate-General Energy at the European Commission Speaker at Young European Council 2015 |
Guests and Speakers 2014
| Name | Background and YEL Event |
|---|---|
| Ms. Connie Hedegaard | European Commissioner for Climate Action, European Commission Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2014 |
| Mr. Michel Lebrun | President, European Committee of the Regions Keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremony of the Young European Council 2014 |
| Dr. Colette Maloney | Head of Unit Smart Cities and Sustainability unit, European Commission, DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Ms. Magdalena Kopczynska | Head of Maritime Transport and Logistics Unit, European Commission, DG MOVE Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Mr. Theo Thomas | Lead Economist in the Macro & Fiscal Management Unit, World Bank Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Ms. Cheryl D. Miller | Founder and Executive Director, Digital Leadership Institute Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2014 |
| Mr. Matt Dann | Secretary General, Bruegel Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2014, and received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Ms. Alicia Gómez Campos | Projects Officer/Membership Outreach and Events Officer, CECODHAS Housing Europe Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Mr. Wolfgang Martin Rudischhauser | Chair of the Working Party on non-proliferation (CONOP), European External Action Service Received the YEL delegation at the Nuclear Knowledge Summit 2014 |
| Mr. Greg Austin | Professorial Fellow and former Vice President, EastWest Institute Received the YEL delegation at the Nuclear Knowledge Summit 2014 |
| Mr. Karl Friedrich Falkenberg | Director General, DG Environment, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels March 2014 |
| Dr. Nicu Popescu | Senior Analyst, European Union Institute for Security Studies Guest to the Youth European Leadership Workshop 2014 |
| Dr. Patryk Pawlak | Senior Analyst, European Union Institute for Security Studies Guest to the Youth European Leadership Workshop 2014 |
| Mr. Colin Scicluna | Cabinet of the High Representative / Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels March 2014 |
| Ms. Josephine Wood | Member of Cabinet for Digital Agenda, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Dr. Carl-Christian Buhr | Member of Cabinet for Digital Agenda, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Mr. Martijn Hendriksen | Member of Cabinet for Industry and Entrepreneurship, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Mr. Ilias Iakovidis | Deputy Head of the ICT for Health unit, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet October 2014 Brussels |
| Ms. Valerie Kinoo | Board of Directors, , Digital Leadership Institute International Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Ms. Sigrid Johannisse | Member of Cabinet for Digital Agenda, European Commission, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels October 2014 |
| Mr. Joe McNamee | Executive Director, European Digital Rights Guest to the Eat & Meet October 2014 Brussels |
| Mr. Sébastien Brabant | Deputy Spokesperson of HR/VP Catherine Ashton, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels March 2014 |
| Mr. Daniel Giorev | Special assistant and Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, European Commission Guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels March 2014 |
| Mr. Florian Köbele | Sherpa Assistant, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2012, 2013, 2014, and keynote speaker at the European Council Forum 2014 |
| Dr. Pierpaolo Settembri | Sherpa Assistant, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2014, and keynote speaker at the European Council Forum 2013, 2014 |
| Ms. Pia Hüttl | Research Assistant, Bruegel Guest to the Youth European Leadership Workshop 2014 |
| Mr. Erik Dale | Digital Communications Coordinator, Bruegel Guest to the Youth European Leadership Workshop 2014 |
Guests and Speakers 2013
| Name | Background and YEL Event |
|---|---|
| Mr. Elio Di Rupo | Prime Minister, Kingdom of Belgium Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Mr. António José Cabral | G20 Sherpa, Cabinet of the President, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Ms. Isabelle Durant | Member and Vice President, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Mr. Herwig Kaiser | Deputy Head of Cabinet of President Martin Schulz, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Ms. Jean Lambert | Member, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013, and guest to the Eat & Meet Brussels November 2015 |
| Mr. Adrian Kendry | Chief Economist, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Mr. Matt Dann | Secretary General, Bruegel Keynote speaker at the Closing Ceremony of the Young European Council 2014, and received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Mr. Arnoldas Pranckevicius | Advisers to the President, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Mr. Marc Jütten | Advisers to the President, European Parliament Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2013 |
| Mr. Florian Köbele | Sherpa Assistant, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2012, 2013, 2014, and keynote speaker at the European Council Forum 2014 |
| Dr. Pierpaolo Settembri | Sherpa Assistant, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2014, and keynote speaker at the European Council Forum 2013, 2014 |
Guests and Speakers 2012
| Name | Background and YEL Event |
|---|---|
| Mr. Florian Köbele | Sherpa Assistant, European Commission Received the European Union delegations in preparation of the Y8 and Y20 Summits 2012, 2013, 2014, and keynote speaker at the European Council Forum 2014 |