3.3 Culture and Youth in the EU Diplomacy
On 8 June 2016 with the launch of ‘A New Strategy to put Culture at the heart of EU International Relations’ Culture was named ‘the hidden gem’ of EU Diplomacy*. It is fair to say that this gem is increasingly mentioned, shown and used to great success as a main asset of EU Diplomacy while the EU is acting on the stage of International Affairs also as a growing and increasingly powerful Geopolitical Actor, also by the explicit intention of the European Commission under President Ursula von der Leyen. At the same time is Cultural Diplomacy and its huge effectiveness increasingly recognized by all Actors of International Relations. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presides over the European External Action Service with both links to the European Commission (the High Representative is Vice-President of the European Commission) and the Council of the European Union (the High Representative chairs the Foreign Affairs Council: the Council of the European Union that gathers the EU Member State Ministers of Foreign Affairs). This European External Action Service (EEAS) is offering like all EU Institutions also the possibility to European youngsters to gain experience as interns at the EEAS. Also for young professionals willing to start a career inside EU Diplomacy, EEAS is providing a specially designed career launch path.