Welcome to our Spring 2026 Interns!

This spring, the European Parliament Liaison Office welcomes interns Alysia, Ingrid, Elias, and Connor to their team in Washington, DC. They will learn about the intricate processes of EP-U.S. Congress relations, ranging from parliamentary research to diplomatic outreach.  

Four trainees join the EPLO office every fall and spring from all over the United States, where they gain hands-on experience in nurturing the EU-U.S. partnership. For their five-month internship, each intern has a different specialization and EPLO supervisor that integrates them into the functioning of the European Parliament. Beyond their assigned tasks, each trainee supports with administrative tasks, executing outreach events, writing articles, and reporting on seminars and committee meetings of international pertinence. With versatile experience abroad, each trainee brings a unique contribution to the team. 

Alysia joins EPLO’s Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) team. She writes research papers and memos for EPLO staffers and members of the European Parliament.  

From growing up in Oregon, graduating with her master’s degree in Peace Research and International Relations from Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, and living in Brussels, her interests in international security institutions and authoritarianism have taken her all over the world. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Portland State University with majors in Political Science, German, and Arts and Letters, and previously interned under U.S. House Representative Suzanne Bonamici from Oregon. During her time at the office, she is looking forward to combining her interests in U.S. and EU politics, creating a “solid foundation for a career in diplomacy and international cooperation.” 

Ingrid is a part of the communications team on cross-policy outreach and public diplomacy. Both in their office and on Capitol Hill, she assists in event management and social media. She also supports media work during visits from members of the European Parliament.  

Having grown up in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida with a bachelor’s in English and minor in Political Science, her immersions abroad led to her pursuing opportunities pertaining to U.S.-EU relations and studying authoritarian leadership.  

During her undergraduate degree, she continued learning French while studying abroad in Paris, France, and recently graduated with a Master of Science in Political Science (Conflict Studies and Comparative Politics) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. This past February, she finished an internship at the House Democracy Partnership in the U.S. House, which focuses on building effective governance in partner legislatures all over the world. With her family in Europe, she is looking forward to help “break down public frustrations with governance, especially during such a politically volatile time.” The fact that the EPLO focuses on enhancing the European Parliament’s relations with the U.S. “gives [her] hope, especially while exploring careers in foreign policy.” 

Connor is working with the external policies team. He concentrates on foreign policy issues pertaining to both the U.S. and EU. His work involves a wide range of tasks, from tracking the activities of congressional committees related to foreign affairs, to aiding with the Transatlantic Legislators Dialogue (TLD).  

Raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and majoring in Political Science and French at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, transatlantic security is a guiding light of his unfolding career. He participated in the NSEP Russian Flagship Program, allowing him to immerse himself in Russian study in Kazakhstan for a year. He also pursued an earlier semester of language study in Montpellier, France. More recently, he worked as a Max Kampelman Policy Fellow last summer in the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He remarked how the EPLO was a natural fit for him since he is “always curious to know more about the functioning of EU institutions, particularly as they relate to the U.S.” 

Elias, who is from California, is focusing on European internal policies. Like Connor, he also tracks various discussions across congressional committees, with concentrations in legal affairs, technology, and economy.  

Primarily, his work pertains to Congressional developments that are of transatlantic significance. With a bachelor’s degree from University of California Santa Barbara in Global Studies, his experiences abroad defined his interests in U.S. foreign policy and European defense. He studied abroad for a year at Sciences Politiques Paris and interned under U.S. House Representative Jimmy Panetta. 

This traineeship is unique in its breadth and depth, exposing them to an international network and policy expertise with roots in building upon pivotal U.S.-EU transatlantic relations.  

EPLO welcomes interns twice a year. It is a chance to not only share an experience in working in European institutions, but to also learn from their distinctive, intrinsically international perspectives.  

Want to learn more about the internship program? Be sure to follow them on their EPLO journeys here or through our social media accounts. The application process for the Autumn-Winter period will open in April, so stay tuned!