About

The European Young Leaders (#EYL40) is a flagship programme of Friends of Europe that brings together a new class of leaders from across Europe every year. 

At a time of deep geopolitical shifts, economic uncertainty and growing pressure on democratic systems, the programme creates a space to step out of silos, connect across sectors and explore how Europe can respond concretely and collectively. 

Why it matters now more than ever 

Europe is facing a defining moment. War on its borders, rising geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change and increasing social pressure are reshaping the environment in which decisions are made. At the same time, there is a growing gap between European ambition and people’s day-to-day realities. 

The challenge is no longer only to define priorities but to deliver on them, in ways that are tangible, inclusive and credible. 

EYL40 creates the conditions for open, trusted exchange between people who would not usually sit in the same room, from policymakers and entrepreneurs to scientists, artists and civil society leaders and across political sensitivities and countries. 

Through seminars, labs, public engagement and ongoing exchanges, the programme focuses on: 

  • connecting perspectives across sectors and countries 
  • challenging assumptions and testing ideas 
  • translating discussions into concrete proposals and collaborations 

The approach is simple: move beyond conversations and contribute to shaping solutions. 

A core element of the programme is its interactive formats — including “Europe to-do list” labs — where participants work together on key challenges. 

The impact of the programme does not stop here. European Young Leaders engage in their own countries, sectors and communities, helping to reconnect European discussions with local realities and contributing to a more inclusive and forward-looking Europe. Our Europe is broader than the EU’s physical borders. Our Europe stretches from the United Kingdom to the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova.  

EYL40 is built on the idea that leadership today is not about titles or sectors, but about the ability to listen, connect and act across boundaries. It is about bringing together people who are willing to question, collaborate and take responsibility in shaping Europe’s future. 

Alumni come from a wide range of backgrounds, from a former refugee who became both a professional footballer at AC Milan and a medical doctor, to a Michelin-starred chef, founders building Europe’s next generation of clean tech companies, members of national and European parliaments, a barrister and bestselling author, a Sámi rights activist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, an ESA astronaut, and artists using theatre and storytelling to challenge societal norms to name just a few. 

What connects them is not where they come from, but their willingness to engage, challenge and contribute to shaping Europe’s future.


Tune in to the EYL40s on Friends of Europe’s podcasts

Policy Voices | Are we alone in the universe?

Leading view

Policy Voices | Are we alone in the universe?

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Policy Voices | AI & Democracy: Empowering informed citizens

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Policy Voices | AI & Democracy: Empowering informed citizens

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Policy Voices | A glaciologist and a greentech entrepreneur on a mission to fight climate change

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Policy Voices | A glaciologist and a greentech entrepreneur on a mission to fight climate change

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Policy Voices Podcast | Keeping the human in the loop: How to make a success story of AI in health

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Policy Voices Podcast | Keeping the human in the loop: How to make a success story of AI in health

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Continue to Meet the EYL

Meet the EYL40

Camille de Toledo
Camille de Toledo

Director, European Society of Authors, 2013 European Young Leader

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Camille is a European writer, creator and artist. He studied in Paris, at the London School of Economics, as well as in New York. He has published several novels, shorts and essays, such as The Inversion of Hieronymus Bosch (2005), Lives and Death of an American Terrorist (2007), and L’inquiétude d’être au monde (The Anxiety of Being in the World) (2012). In 2004, Camille won the Villa Medicis scholarship for his literary and video work. His short film, “Tango de Olvido”, was selected for the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. In 2008 he founded the European Society of Authors with other intellectual figures to promote a cultural Europe on the basis of what he coined a translation citizenship. He is the Chief Editor of www.ifverso.com and Chief Advisor of the “TLHUB.org” project, a multilingual translation platform.

Rokhaya Diallo
Rokhaya Diallo

Journalist, Writer, Filmmaker and 2013 European Young Leader (EYL40)

Show more information on Rokhaya Diallo

Rokhaya is a human rights activist committed to anti-racism work. She is currently the Host and Co-Editor of “Egaux, mais pas trop” (Equal, but not too much), a series of reports on diversity issues in France, and has previously held a number of noteworthy positions in the television field, basing her work primarily on social and political issues. The Founder and former president of Les Indivisibles, a French organisation that uses humour and irony to fight racism, Rokhaya is also a published author, scriptwriter and award-winning director of several documentaries. She is a member of several NGOs and organisations that base their work on social awareness and also sits on the board of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Foundation. In 2012, she received the COJEP International Award for her work against racism and discrimination.

Rabah Ghezali
Rabah Ghezali

Head of Regulatory and Government Relations France & Benelux at VISA and 2013 European Young Leader (EYL40)

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Rabah is the Head of Regulatory and Government Relations for France and Benelux at VISA and an Adjunct Professor of Economics at Sciences Po Paris. Prior to this, he was group director of public policy and regulatory affairs at VEON and director of European legislative affairs, European government affairs and public advocacy at NYSE Euronext. Rabah has had a successful diplomatic and legal career having worked as a counsellor for major corporations and states. Rabah is a founding member of the Transatlantic Network 2020, which brings innovative perspectives on transatlantic relations by connecting rising North American and European leaders of tomorrow. He has also been awarded the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Fellowship and selected as a member of the Young Atlanticists Group by the Atlantic Council.

Axelle Lemaire
Axelle Lemaire

Deputy Head of the French Red Cross in charge of Strategy, Transformation and Innovation and 2013 European Young Leader (EYL40)

Show more information on Axelle Lemaire

Former socialist politician, member of Parliament and minister for Digital Affairs, Axelle currently serves as the Deputy Head of the French Red Cross in charge of strategy, transformation and innovation. Prior to this, a lawyer by education, she led a proponent of net-neutrality legislation and has been a key figure in the French tech start-up scene. Axelle has also previously served as the Global Head of Terra Numerata at Roland Berger.

André Loesekrug-Pietri
André Loesekrug-Pietri

Chairman and Scientific Director of the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI) and 2013 European Young Leader (EYL40)

Show more information on André Loesekrug-Pietri

André Loesekrug-Pietri is an entrepreneur and has held leadership positions in private equity, government and industry. He is currently the Chairman of JEDI, which aims to accelerate Europe’s leadership by financing and nurturing the development of breakthrough technologies. He previously served as a special advisor to the French Minister of Defence, where he was responsible for European defence policy, as well as technology and innovation, prior to which he has 15 years of experience in private equity and venture capital. Loesekrug-Pietri is a lecturer at Sciences Po and a regular columnist at several international media outlets. Having studied aerospace engineering, he is also a private pilot and Colonel with the French Air Force People’s Reserve.

Charles-Edouard Vincent
Charles-Edouard Vincent

Founder, Lulu dans ma rue, 2013 European Young Leader

Show more information on Charles-Edouard Vincent

Charles Edouard is Founder and Head of Emmaüs Défi, a branch of Emmaüs France, which functions as a non-discriminating company providing jobs to all those who cannot find work in today’s market. He has an atypical background having previously worked in the IT sector at companies such as Netscape, Escalate and SAP France. Only later did he decide to dedicate his career to social entrepreneurship. Charles Edouard also teaches a Social Business and Poverty Entrepreneurship class at the HEC School in Paris. He has attended several universities such as Ecole Polytechnique, ParisTech and Stanford, from which he received a Master’s degree in Engineering Management.

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Selection process

Thank you for your interest in the European Young Leaders (EYL40) programme.

Each year, we bring together a small group of outstanding individuals from across Europe, the Western Balkans, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Moldova to join this community.

We look for people aged 30 to 40 who have already made an impact in their field, and who bring curiosity, openness and a genuine willingness to engage, people who want to help shape Europe’s future.

We will post here more information on calls for upcoming classes.

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