Alba
Alba is the Managing Director of Stand Up for Europe. In an interview with Alliance4Europe, she decided to share part of her journey.
“I am Alba, a Spaniard that came to the European capital of Brussels. I have always been curious about the world out there, that’s why I decided to come to Brussels, in order to get first-hand experience in EU affairs and to be part of the international space. I spent some years abroad, where I got to know more about other cultures, people, and the stories that fill our life experiences.
I do not recall any too-hard-to-handle event. I can say that at work the willingness to collaborate can get you through many things and save time, and ultimately the day. I worked with colleagues from various countries, from Hungary to Syria, with different backgrounds, from technology to cybersecurity, political affairs, or law, and all very helpful. One of the best moments was cleaning one of our offices. We used to divide the tasks, as a team-building exercise, and then celebrate with something sweet to eat together once the office was tidy and shiny. We had fun and got closer to each other.
When we are talking about European citizens, our mission, like many others, is important in relative terms. We are enthusiastic about engaging citizens in EU affairs by producing content, triggering critical thinking, and organising events in the form of participatory activities which people can enjoy whilst they learn more about the EU.
I have been involved in EU affairs more closely for the past four years. The more recent populist waves in several EU countries have been a matter of concern to us. Populism plays on emotions to make people fall into their interests. For the past years with the pandemic, misinformation has also fuelled opposition amongst Europeans. It is okay to have opposing views, but not to disseminate false information. I think we, in civil society, can in many stances help, for instance, by addressing our audiences, breaking down complex European issues to inform in the best possible way.”
