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

Max von Bismarck
Max von Bismarck

Chief Business Officer & Managing Director, Deposit Solutions and 2014 European Young Leader (EYL40)

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Max is a European serial entrepreneur and Chief Business Officer of Deposit Solutions. Previously Max was Partner and CEO Europe for SkyBridge Capital, the global alternative investment firm, and Director and Head of Investors at the World Economic Forum in Geneva and New York. Furthermore, he was a Co-Founder & Managing Director at Public One Strategy Consulting, and part of the initial team of the technology company Mondus Limited that originated out of Oxford University. He serves as Senior Advisor Europe to the Berggruen Institute and is a former Senior Advisor on Global Business at the Asia-Pacific Research Center of Stanford University.

Photo of Andi Wecker
Andi Wecker

Film- and TV producer, writer, director at Network Movie Film und Fernsehproduktion GmbH and 2015-2016 European Young Leader (EYL40)

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After working in various jobs including as a camera assistant, electrician and assistant director in film and television, Andi joined the film production company Network Movie in 2002 as a producer. Projects then included the first series of the international co-production “The Team” for which Andi was Creative Producer, several series of the crime drama, “Soko Köln” (PD Cologne), several TV-movies including an adaptation of Frank Schätzing’s bestseller, “Die Dunkle Seite” (The Dark Side). While fulfilling these responsibilities, he studied directing at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne and wrote and directed several short films and commercials.

Photo of Wiebke Winter
Wiebke Winter

Member of the Bremen State Parliament, Founder of KlimaUnion and European Young Leader (EYL40)

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German politician Wiebke Winter is a member of the Bremen State Parliament representing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). She is the youngest female member of the CDU’s Federal Executive Board. Winter’s political priorities include climate protection, security and digitalisation. In 2021, she co-founded KlimaUnion to push for more ambitious climate policies, particularly through climate-focused foreign policy. Winter chairs the Home Affairs Committee in the State Parliament. She co-led the CDU list in in Bremen’s 2023 state election and is the party’s deputy parliamentary group leader and spokeswoman on Justice. Winter campaigns to get more young women in politics.

Eberhart Wusterhaus Gomez
Eberhart Wusterhaus Gomez

Commercial Director at Carbon Clean and 2015-2016 European Young Leader (EYL40)

Show more information on Eberhart Wusterhaus Gomez

Eberhart is an engineer specialising in energy generation for heating, power and vehicle fuel from both conventional and sustainable sources. He also has expert knowledge of the feasibility of the development and practical application of energy generation based on local conditions. Born in Mexico and educated in Germany, Eberhart has a vital understanding of industrialised and developing countries alike. He has been responsible for national renewable gas projects in Germany, and for the mechanical design and commissioning of gas processing plants in developing countries. He has a strong understanding of the global energy market, current obstacles and future perspectives, with experience of various multi-million euro investment contract negotiations around the world.

Chanyu Xu
Chanyu Xu

Founder and CEO of her1 and 2020-2021 European Young Leader (EYL40)

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Chanyu is a German serial entrepreneur, passionate foodie and start-up mentor from Berlin. In 2009 she co-founded her first successful ‘software as a service’ (SaaS) start-up Customer Alliance which is currently used by over 3,500 hotels in 35 countries. Chanyu has since co-founded several food-tech start-ups, including eating.de backed by star investor Peter Thiel and her1, which offers tips and products for a healthy and nutritious lifestyle. Her latest start-up, ONO LABS, provides women with 100% natural nutrition before, during and after pregnancy.

Julia Zimmermann
Julia Zimmermann

Chief Scientific Officer, Terraplasma and 2014 European Young Leader (EYL40)

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Julia is principal investigator in the research area “plasma medicine”, a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field of research requiring synergistic contributions from physicists, engineers, chemists, micro- and cell-biologists and physicians. To carry out this fundamental but also translational research she created a “plasma medicine network” including partners from more than 20 institutions in Germany, England, the USA and Russia. Julia is also Co-founder of the company terraplasma GmbH – a technology company, founded in May 2011 as a spin-off from the Max Planck Society. The mission of terraplasma GmbH is to develop and bring to market different cold atmospheric plasma devices. Julia holds a PhD in Biophysics from the Technical University in Munich.

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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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