FAQs
Vote4ORoL Fellowship

General

  • Are you a young European passionate about democracy and looking to deepen your understanding of the European Union's political landscape? The Vote4OurRuleofLaw Fellowship is designed just for you!

    This educational initiative goes beyond the typical university curriculum, offering an in-depth exploration of the European Parliament (EP) elections and the EU's decision-making process. As a fellow, you'll embark on a journey to discover the profound impact of EU policies on your life and the indispensable role of the rule of law in sustaining democracy.

  • During the Fellowship, the participants will be working in teams on weekly research tasks, facilitated and overseen by respective mentors. The tasks aim to provide them with tools to cast an informed vote at the ballots – and to convince others around them to do the same. The Fellowship will conclude with a publication encompassing all the research findings gathered by the participants.

    The preliminary curriculum is as follows: 

    • Introductory session 18.03.2024

    • Week 1 (18.03-24.03): “What do young people care about and why do(n’t) they vote? Analysis per Member State”

    • Week 2 (25.03-31.03) “How are your concerns acted on at EU level? Understanding the link between national votes, national parties and Europarties, and the EP’s role and functioning  ”

    • Week 3 (01.04-03.04) “Voting for Our Rule of Law: The interplay of national and European democracy and Rule of Law Protection”

    • In-person Bootcamp in Berlin 04-05.04.2024

    • Week 4, 5 and 6 (08.04-26.04): Report preparation

    For the full overview, see section Timeline and Curriculum.

  • This project was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Culture of Solidarity Fund powered by the European Cultural Foundation in collaboration with Allianz Foundation and the Evens Foundation.

    The project is supported by the Research Institute Law & Society (LSI) at Humboldt University and Princeton Program in Law & Public Policy.

Application

  • Apply by filling out this form.

  • We encourage all interested students who will be first-time voters in the upcoming EP elections and are enrolled in a European University currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate program to apply. To ensure the academic background diversity in the programme, we invite students from all disciplines to apply.  We welcome applications from any gender, race, sexuality, age, and nationality. 

  • The official language of the fellowship is English. We welcome participants who may not have previously pursued their studies in English. Proficiency in academic and effective communication, both spoken and written in English, is essential, but perfect fluency is not a prerequisite – our focus is on the ability to engage meaningfully and contribute to discussions and written work in English.

  • The Fellows are expected to spend 8 to 10 hours per week on the project.

  • The application form opens on the 20.01.2024. The deadline to apply is the 07.03.2024 23:59 CET. Applicants will be informed on their selection around a week after the submission deadline.

  • The application consists of submitting a CV, video and short essay:

    Video (max 1 minute) where you answer the following question: How would you convince your friend to go to vote in the upcoming European Parliament elections? 

    You only have one minute to convince your friend, a fellow first-time voter, to vote in the European Parliament elections after they told you “I don’t think I will go vote in June, what's the point anyway?” 

    Short essay (max 500 words): What is the biggest hurdle for first-time voters to go out and vote in your member state/where you study (if you are non-european)?

    CV (max 2 A4 pages)

  • During the selection process, weight will be given to the following elements: 

    motivation to join the programme;

    demonstrated interest in the upcoming EP elections;

    intellectual rigour and critical thinking as demonstrated through academic performance or otherwise; 

    teamwork and communication skills;

    representation across all EU Member States.

Timeline and Curriculum

Timeline

The timeline of the Fellowship is as follows:

  • Introductory session 18.03.2024

  • Week 1 (18.03-24.03): “What do young people care about and why do(n’t) they vote? Analysis per Member State”

  • Week 2 (25.03-31.03) “How are your concerns acted on at EU level? Understanding the link between national votes, national parties and Europarties, and the EP’s role and functioning  ”

  • Week 3 (01.04-03.04) “Voting for Our Rule of Law: The interplay of national and European democracy and Rule of Law Protection”

  • In-person Bootcamp in Berlin 04-05.04.2024

  • Week 4, 5 and 6 (08.04-26.04): Report preparation

Curriculum

  • Week 1 of the Fellowship offers a comprehensive analysis of voter turnout in European Parliament elections with a particular focus on understanding the motivations behind young people's participation. The European Parliament elections serve as a crucial barometer of democratic engagement and political participation across member states. However, youth voter turnout has often been lower compared to other age demographics, sparking interest and concern among policymakers.

  • Week 2 of the Fellowship will provide a comprehensive examination of the European Parliament (EP), one of the key institutions of the European Union (EU). Students will gain a deep understanding of the EP's structure, functions, decision-making processes, and its impact on EU governance and legislation. Students will explore the role of the EP in shaping EU policies, representing European citizens, and contributing to the democratic legitimacy of the EU. Moreover, week 2 offers an in-depth exploration of the complex interplay between national political parties, European Parliament (EP) parties, and political groups in the context of European Parliament elections. Through a comparative lens, students will examine how voting choices in one EU Member State can influence the composition and dynamics of political groups in the European Parliament, with particular attention to the rise of populist movements and their transnational connections.

  • In Week 3 of the Fellowship, the participants will explore the symbiotic relationship between democracy and the rule of law in the European Union. It delves into theoretical foundations, EU institutional dynamics, and contemporary challenges. Fellows will analyse case studies, institutional roles, and debates on topics like populism and judicial independence. Through discussions, the participants will develop critical insights into EU governance and democratic principles. By the end, students gain a comprehensive understanding of how democracy and the rule of law intersect within the EU framework, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to discussions on European governance and democracy.

  • On the 4th and 5th of April Fellows will get the opportunity to come together in Berlin at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. These two days will serve as a time to exchange their findings and delve deeper into the ongoing conversation of first-time voters and the EP elections. Fellows can envisage workshops on topics such as ‘‘Reality Check’: what you should know as a voter about how the EP and EU decision-making really work (but nobody tells you)’.

  • Throughout weeks 4 to 6 of the Fellowship, participants will embark on a comprehensive synthesis of the knowledge acquired over the preceding three weeks. The focal point of their endeavour will be the creation of a substantive paper probing the foremost challenges hindering the dissemination of knowledge about the European Parliament within their respective national contexts. Participants will subsequently devote their focus to synthesising their research discoveries into the precise format necessary for the culmination of their final report.