Home>Juliette Lequesne et Jeanne Saliou, Class of 2020
01.02.2024
Juliette Lequesne et Jeanne Saliou, Class of 2020
Juliette Lequesne and Jeanne Saliou are both graduates of the 2018-2020 class of the Dual Master's in European Affairs at Sciences Po and the London School of Economics. Having followed the Europe in the World stream, they are the two French laureates of the European Union's Young Professional Delegation (JPD) programme, Juliette working in the European Integration and Policy Section of the EU Delegation to Montenegro (European External Action Service), and Jeanne in the Cooperation Section of the EU Delegation to Chile (European Commission).
Can you describe your academic and professional backgrounds?
Juliette: First of all, I did a double bachelor's degree in history and politics at McGill University in Canada, where I quickly specialised in post-communist transition and the integration of Central and South-Eastern European countries into the EU. I met some fascinating professors who reinforced my decision to continue working on EU enlargement issues.
This is why the dual master's degree in European affairs between Sciences Po and the London School of Economics quickly proved to be the ideal programme for acquiring a solid grounding in the workings of the EU and its institutions, with fundamental courses in economics and EU institutional law, and a specialisation in the study of the EU's external relations and its role in international affairs. My first placement was at the European Union Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then, thanks to the extension of Sciences Po's internship agreements during the Covid period, I took the opportunity to go to Moldova, where I worked in the political chancellery of the French Embassy. This experience reinforced my professional interest in diplomatic action.
Jeanne: I joined the dual degree programme between Sciences Po and the LSE after three years of CPGE literature at the Lycée Henri IV. I'd been interested in international relations for a long time, but my curiosity about European affairs grew out of encounters I made during this period. The dual degree, with the 'Europe in the World' stream, was the perfect answer to my expectations. At the end of it, and thanks in particular to the knowledge I had acquired of EU law, I joined the Master 2 in Human Rights and the European Union at the University of Paris 1, with the aim of specialising in the impact of digital issues on democracy and human rights. My career path was then structured around these issues, including my first position in the European and International Affairs Department of the Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés.
What were the major stages in the development of your career plan?
Juliette: On the strength of my experience at the French Embassy in Moldova, I then did the Blue Book internship at the European Commission, in the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina unit. This first experience in a European institution, on the front line of the EU's accession negotiations with the countries of the Western Balkans, was very formative for my current work at the EU Delegation in Montenegro. Following the Blue Book internship at DG NEAR, I wanted to gain more work experience in a Western Balkan country. As chance would have it, the French Embassy in Albania had just opened a new VIA (volontariat international en administration) post, in charge of governance, in the cooperation and cultural action department. I jumped at the chance. For two years, I worked in Tirana on behalf of France on issues relating to the rule of law (justice and human rights) and cooperation initiatives in these areas with civil society, in the context of Albania's accession process to the EU. It was an extremely rewarding professional experience that convinced me to stay a little longer in the region...
Jeanne: To be honest, my career plan is always evolving and readjusting to each new experience. However, one of the main turning points in its construction was my participation in the Canada-Quebec-EU European Parliament Simulation during my final year of CPGE. Although I still knew very little about European institutions, it changed the direction of my studies and led me to join the Sciences Po - LSE dual degree. Three years later, I found myself doing a traineeship in the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the same committee to which I belonged during the simulation.
After that, my first internship, which I did alongside my courses at Sciences Po, was with ALPHALEX-CONSULT, a consultancy firm. It was there that I discovered digital and innovation policies, which became one of my main interests and led me to join the Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés, first as an intern in its Digital Innovation Laboratory, then as a lawyer in European and international affairs. I also became familiar with different types of European funds, which was invaluable in supporting the mission of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights to the EU as an intern, and which continues to be useful to me today in the Delegation.
What are the main features of your current job in the European Union Delegation?
Juliette: As a political attaché, I'm involved in monitoring negotiations on Montenegro's accession to the European Union, particularly Chapter 24 (migration, asylum, visas, border management) and Chapter 31 (foreign policy, security and defence). I am working closely with the relevant Montenegrin ministries on the new enlargement roadmap.
Since October 2023, Montenegro has had a new pro-European government, which has embarked on major reforms to speed up the accession process. Our role within the EU Delegation is to provide the Montenegrin authorities with the best possible support on the road to accession, in liaison with the representatives of the EU Member States, international organisations and civil society players. Political analysis, reports and briefings are also used to keep Brussels (EEAS and Commission) informed of the progress of reforms. There is no typical day. I may attend meetings with Member State ambassadors, visit a migrant reception centre, have an appointment with the Ukrainian consul to discuss temporary protection status for refugees, or prepare a high-level visit. This diversity makes delegation work particularly rich.
Jeanne: As a programme officer, I'm involved in managing projects funded by the European Union in Chile. It involves following the life of these projects from A to Z, from their conception to their closure. My portfolio ranges from monitoring the implementation in Chile of regional cooperation programmes in the field of crime and security (the fight against cybercrime, drug trafficking, transnational organised crime, etc.) to the management of calls for projects specific to Chile, in the field of human rights and civil society. It also monitors the EUROsociAL Puente programme, which offers technical assistance based on three pillars: gender equality policies, democratic governance and social policies.
So, depending on the type of project, I come into contact with a wide range of Chilean stakeholders - from ministries, government agencies and other institutions to civil society and academia. The tasks are very varied, and each project gives me the opportunity to get to know certain aspects of Chilean society in depth, particularly during field missions.
How has your training at the School of Public Affairs, and more specifically the Europe in the World stream and the dual master's degree with the LSE, contributed to your current role?
Juliette: The dual degree with the LSE was very enriching in many ways. It's an excellent balance between acquiring academic knowledge about the European integration project and practical skills about the EU. At Sciences Po, thanks to the 'Europe in the World' stream, I was able to grasp a wide range of topics, from EU policy in the face of crises, diplomatic strategies within international organisations and the EU's positions vis-à-vis China and Russia. All of these topics are relevant to my day-to-day work at the EU Delegation in Montenegro.
Jeanne: I hadn't really dealt with European issues before in my studies. So this course gave me a solid grounding in public policy, economics and European law. The courses in the Europe in the World stream enabled me to delve into different facets of the EU's external action, from cultural diplomacy to economic and security issues and the structuring of cooperation programmes. This last aspect proved particularly useful when I joined the Delegation, as I was able to navigate the different types of project I was working on.
Would you have any advice for a student or future graduate?
Juliette: I'd say don't hesitate to ask for advice, whether it's from teachers, professionals, or young graduates you've found on LinkedIn, they'll often be willing to share their experience and help you on your career path. Who knows, it might even lead to great opportunities!
Jeanne: If you have time, get involved in community life at Sciences Po, or outside in your home areas, current neighbourhoods or future cities. Not only will you meet new people, but you'll also be able to put some of what you've learnt into practice and develop new skills and knowledge that are extremely valuable. If, like me, you come from rural France, I strongly recommend that you join - if it exists - your département's association with the Grandes Écoles in the DTGE federation. It's a way of staying rooted in your region, and your experiences and career paths are examples that secondary school students from your region can draw on to build their career paths.
