The Netherlands is just one of 27 countries working closely together in the EU...
The Netherlands is just one of 27 countries that work closely together in the EU. Being right is not the same as getting your way. The same applies in diplomacy. I am a go-getter – in my enthusiasm and passion, I can sometimes get carried away in a discussion. Through my training at WuDae, I have become more aware of my own actions. When I feel pressure or resistance, I try to take a step back and approach the situation differently. Listening, engaging in conversation, learning from the perspectives of others. This is also inspired by my Wing Chun training. The philosophy of this sport, in which you use the energy of the other person and of the moment, teaches me how many different ways there are to achieve your goal. Thinking about the “curious hand” helps me to deal with situations in a different way.
A brief look back in time
How did I become interested in the European Union? After completing my pre-university education, I was exploring my options, and my father, who was a school counsellor at the time, visited the University of Twente. The campus there was unique at the time: a beautiful setting with all those student houses surrounded by greenery; and because it was a technical university, there were naturally many young men around. Without realising it at the time, that choice of study programme turned out to be a bull's eye. The public administration programme offered a specialisation in “national administration and European integration”. And that's what I've been doing ever since my internship at the Clingendael Institute here in The Hague.
Insight into European politics
I am a political junkie. Before I ended up at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, I worked in the House of Representatives for a while. When they start out, many MPs and ministers know little about European politics. I found it challenging to introduce politicians to what happens in Brussels. Because that is where important policies are made for Dutch citizens and businesses. We have to actively participate in that, otherwise decisions will be made without us or about us.
Mendeltje van Keulen
Year of birth: 1975
Profession:
- Professor of practice (lecturer) “European Impact” The Hague University of Applied Sciences
- Jean Monnet Chair EU Digi Act
- Researches European affairs
- Member of the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV)
Residence: The Hague
Soon the third part of a total of five. Read more here: Humans of Wing Chun
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