Selected for the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium -sponsored traineeship, Sami is a recent graduate specialising in European foreign and security policy from the European University Institute.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be involved with SaferGlobe on such important and timely issues. In light of current geopolitical realities and more pressing security concerns, the current operational environment of arms control is understandably weak” says Sami.
According to Harju, a strategically autonomous and capable Europe is crucial for advancing national and international security – but so is maintaining existing arms control frameworks, agreements, and confidence-building measures.
“During my internship, I will get to be an integral part of SaferGlobe’s independent research initiatives and projects, before starting my traineeship at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG-DEFIS),” Harju explains.
Harju says he was particularly interested in the implementation of the European Defence Fund and the new European Defence Industrial Strategy during his time in Florence, and how these can be strongly supported without compromising the principles of proportionality and transparency.
“We are pleased to welcome Sami to SaferGlobe. It’s wonderful that we can support the career paths of young and talented individuals with the backing of the European Union,” says SaferGlobe’s Executive Director, Maria Mekri.
“At the same time, SaferGlobe as an organization is developing, and we remain committed to forward-thinking approaches. Sami is already an integral part of our community.”
The internship is part of SaferGlobe’s EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium internship, which includes participation in SaferGlobe’s arms control work and preparing a dissertation related to arms control. The internship lasts for three months, ending in mid-March.
