The European Union and its institutions are powerful actors with great influence over the policies drafted across its member states and beyond. With this masterclass, Ashoka’s Participation Hub wants to empower Ashoka’s community of changemakers to navigate the complex EU institutional setup and get a first glance at how civil society can get actively involved in the policy processes. 

The Masterclass will consist of three 1-hour interactive sessions, hosted by Ashoka Fellows and pro-bono partners who are experts in EU policy. This three-part training is divided into the following themes and dates:

June 5th, 2025: Understanding EU institutions 

June 12th, 2025: Strategies to engage with EU Institutions 

June 26th, 2025: A case study: The Right to Repair Campaign with Ashoka Fellow Ugo Vallauri 

⏰ Time: 13:00 AM – 14:00 PM (CET) 

🔗 How to join: Register at this link. 

 🗣 Language: English 

🎟 Seats are limited, so we encourage early registration! Priority will be given to community members registering for the three sessions.
 

Understanding EU institutions 

🗓 Date: June 5th, 2025 

⏰ Time: 13:00 PM – 14:00 PM (CET) 

This first session will provide an overview of how the EU policy-making process works, diving into how the various EU institutions interact to create, negotiate, and pass policies.  

The session will be hosted by Ashoka’s pro-bono partner, Arcturus, a consulting firm specializing in institutional strategy and market development, with offices in France, Belgium, and Germany. 
 

Speakers

Julie Guersent:  

With a degree in Political Science and a Master's in International Relations, Julie had several experiences at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union and the General Secretariat of European Affairs (SGAE) in Paris before joining ARCTURUS GROUP. A year as a member of the Eyes on Europe association in Brussels also familiarized her with the organizational field. Julie joined the Brussels office of ARCTURUS GROUP in 2018 and focuses on the transport and agriculture sectors.  

Adam Beunardeau-Pammen:  

Adam joined Arcturus Group as a Consultant in August 2024. He holds a double Master’s degree in International Relations and EU Diplomatic Studies from the College of Europe and in Transatlantic Affairs (jointly offered with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy), a Master’s degree in European and International Studies from the University of Aix-Marseille and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Clermont Auvergne. He also studied at Madrid Complutense University and the University of Helsinki on Erasmus exchanges programs. Before joining Arcturus Group, Adam was an intern at the General Secretariat of the Council in the General and Institutional Policy Directorate. Adam is Franco-British and also speaks Spanish.
 

Strategies to engage with EU Institutions 

🗓 Date: June 12th, 2025 

⏰ Time: 13:00 PM – 14:00 PM (CET) 

In this session, Ashoka community members will dive into the strategies on how to effectively engage with EU institutions as a civil society organization. Founded by Ashoka Fellow Alberto Alemanno, the Good Lobby is empowering civil society organizations to have access to the right resources to build powerful campaigns, and empowering citizens to do advocacy. 
 

Speakers 

Kelsey Beltz, Head of Education and Global Partnerships:

Kelsey leads the education initiatives at The Good Lobby. Her work includes designing and delivering impactful educational programmes such as The Good Lobby Climate Incubator, The Good Lobby EU Masterclass, and lobbying workshops, through which she has trained hundreds of youth advocates from dozens of organisations across Europe. She also regularly participates in youth mentoring programmes and pro bono initiatives to engage students in policy work. Before joining The Good Lobby, Kelsey honed her expertise in policy and advocacy through roles at the OECD Development Centre and NYU School of Law. Kelsey holds a Master of Public Policy from Sciences Po Paris and a Master of Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. 

Gabriele Sorce, Policy and Education Officer:

Gabriele is a Policy and Education Officer at The Good Lobby, focusing on environment, animal welfare, human rights, and citizen participation. Passionate about civic engagement, he believes active participation is key to democratic governance. Before joining The Good Lobby, he worked with an NGO specialising in international cooperation and law, and served as a consultant and internal party advisor in various political campaigns at municipal, regional, and national levels. Gabriele holds a Bachelor’s in European Studies, a Master of Arts in European Politics and International Relations from Maastricht University, and a Master of Science in Conflict and Development from Ghent University. 
 

A case study: The Right to Repair Campaign

🗓 Date: June 26th, 2025 

⏰ Time: 13:00 PM – 14:00 PM (CET) 

During this third session, Ashoka Fellow Ugo Vallauri will share how he co-built the “Right to Repair” campaign, what he learned throughout the process, and what impact it has had so far on EU policy.  

The Right to Repair Europe coalition represents over 180 organizations from 30 European countries. It includes environmental NGOs and repair actors such as community repair groups, social economy actors, spare parts distributors, self-repairers, repair and refurbishing businesses, and any citizen who would like to advocate for their right to repair. This is a rapidly growing movement, with the objective of making repairs affordable, accessible, and mainstream. Browse all their member organizations by country. 
 

Speakers 

Ashoka Fellow Ugo Vallauri is a leading connector and convener in the European movement for electronic repair rights. He mobilizes communities to foster a culture of repairing electronics, raises awareness about the importance of repair, and gathers strategic data on reparability issues. Ugo also collaborates with key policy actors to advocate for effective repair strategies, and his work has rapidly expanded and is being replicated internationally, driving a shift in how society relates to technology.