Public Policy New Voices Europe - Cohort 4

Public Policy New Voices Europe (PPNVE) connects, supports, and empowers a new generation of diverse leaders in public policy across Europe. This dynamic year-long fellowship program seeks to address the challenges faced by underrepresented groups and emerging leaders in the public policy arena by providing a platform for support, mentorship, networking, and skill-building.

The Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship is multifaceted and dynamic, with regular activities taking place online, alongside an annual in-person meeting in Salzburg, Austria. Each year, the Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship focuses on a specific challenge that is affecting the fields of policy and politics in Europe. 

Each year the Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship focuses on a public policy challenge topic. In 2025, the focus is on: Rebuilding Trust and Cohesion in European Public Policy.

Europe faces a pivotal moment as trust in public institutions reaches historic lows across the continent. Rising populism, regional secessionist movements, and growing dissatisfaction with both national and EU-wide entities are fragmenting communities and eroding the cohesion essential for a stable democratic society. Recent data shows that only 32% of EU citizens express confidence in the EU (source), while nearly 70% feel their voices are not heard in EU decision-making (source). This disillusionment is compounded by challenges such as disinformation, hybrid threats, and perceived accountability gaps, leaving citizens feeling disconnected from the institutions meant to serve them. Addressing these challenges is crucial for maintaining the integrity of European democracy and building resilient, transparent institutions that can foster unity and inclusivity.

The 2025 theme, Beyond Fragmentation: Rebuilding Trust and Cohesion in European Democracy, responds to these pressing needs by equipping emerging public policy leaders with innovative tools to counter polarization, combat disinformation, and promote transparent, accountable governance. Through a focus on strengthening institutional cohesion, tackling misinformation, aligning corporate responsibility with democratic values, and fostering inclusive dialogue, this program will empower leaders to address the complex realities of fragmentation in Europe. Participants will gain actionable insights to rebuild trust, create cohesive policies, and champion a vision of a united, resilient European democracy.

Program Details:

Virtual meetings*: 

• Online Onboarding Session: March 4 and March 5 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

• Online Session: April 1, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

• Online Session: May 6, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

• Online Session: June 3, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

• Online Session: July 1, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

• Online Session: September 2, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

• Online Session: October 7, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)
  

• Online Offboarding Session: December 2, 2025 (18:00 to 19:30 Central European Time)

*dates are subject to change

In-person convening in Salzburg, Austria:

In-Person Meeting: October 13, 2025 - October 17, 2025

The program will start around 15:00 Central European Time on October 13 and it will end on October 17 (this day being departure day only)

More information about the program is available here.

Who Should Apply?

You are at an early stage of your career or in an academic program and your career ambition is to work in Europe in public policy, public service and policy development; in rule of law, business, finance, health, education and arts or in international and intergovernmental agencies and non-profit organizations.

You are passionate about using public policy to build democratic and inclusive societies in which diversity is valued and all citizens regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and nationalities are respected, have full access to resources, and are treated equally, do not experience discrimination, and are engaged in the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

You will be comfortable communicating in English as this is the most common shared language of our international community and the working language of Salzburg Global. We’re not expecting perfection but want to be able to get to know you.

You will demonstrate an open mind and a commitment to gaining new perspectives. Prior international experience is not required– in fact, we welcome people for whom this will be their first international exposure.

You are currently living and working or studying in one of the following countries of Europe:

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, or Ukraine. 

Salzburg Global actively encourages applications from communities that have been historically less visible and privileged in the field of public policy. We especially welcome applications from people of color, those from ethnically diverse and/or migrant or refugee communities, disabled people, people from low-income backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBT*.

*LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. This term is widely recognized in human rights discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in many parts of the world. It is intended to be inclusive of other cultural concepts, contemporary or historical, that express sexuality, gender, intersex, and gender non-conforming identities.

Application Deadline:

January 17, 2025 (17:00 Central European Time)

If you have any exceptional circumstances that inhibit your application through this online portal, please get in touch with us at skunashakaran@salzburgglobal.org.