Since October 2005, a group of enthusiastic JCI members from different corners of Europe have gathered to attend the JCI European Know-How Transfer program in Brussels. It is important to us, as young citizens, to learn and raise matters that need attention on a European level. And to also get to know the elected representatives of the European Union. Each year the program has a new theme addressing current topics that aim to involve active citizens. The theme for the 2020 program was solidarity and response to covid-19. What was previously limited only to on-site participants was this year delivered virtually to all members. “It was both a blessing and a curse to have the pandemic. The core part of the Know-How Transfer is this: in-room person to person shadowing, exchanging opportunities you have with your MEP-s and building personal relationships”, says Dorian Lötzer, the Area Manager for JCI Europe. As a knowledge transfer program, the event provided an opportunity for JCI members to exchange with the elected officials what young people feel strongly about and what kind of an impact a specific policy might have over a local community. For Anni Oja, the National President of JCI Estonia 2019 and a participant of the program in 2017, it was truly an eye-opening experience: “One thing is to read about European politics in the news, but being there in Brussels and seeing how it operates gave a much more complete picture of the long processes and mechanisms designed to take us forward as a union.” An "experience" and "revelation" in one A member of JCI Romania and VP for JCI Europe in 2018, Diana Mardarovici attended the program in 2015 and 2018.

“In 2015 my experience was a revelation: I had the opportunity to discuss directly with members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Commission issues affecting Romania and Europe as a whole. MEP Siegfried Muresan – whom I shadowed – was extremely forthcoming and willing to share from his experience,” she says. Diana’s assertiveness was appreciated and encouraged and due to her well-documented questions - “I was invited to meet with the Vice President of the European Parliament in a one-on-one meeting about the opportunities and future of the European project”, says Mardarovici.