Green Budget Europe (GBE) focuses on reducing environmentally harmful subsidies and labor taxes while increasing taxes on pollution and on non-renewable resources – and doing so in a socially equitable way. Behind our work is the realization that charging a price for costs associated with production and consumption can help protect climate and environment.
GBE brings together representatives of business, international organisations, ministries, NGOs, political decision-makers, the research community and civil society at EU level in individual European states, and internationally. By implementing environmental fiscal reform (EFR), countries can:
- Cut pollution;
- Conserve scarce resources; and
- Enhance social equity through a careful and considered approach to reform
- Organizing and participating in conferences, seminars, workshops and parliamentary hearings to foster dialogue and deliver progress on EFR;
- Conducting and disseminating research and best practice on EFR to key stakeholders, our networks, and the wider public;
- One-to-one meetings with political decision-makers and others influential in policy-making to put forward our arguments and propose implementation strategies;
- Communicating information directly through our own media (newsletter, Twitter etc.), and
- Responding to and commenting on on-going political processes, and highlighting potential windows of opportunity for EFR in the wider media.
The successful applicant for the Policy Officer traineeship will support GBE in its activities, including:
- Research on market-based instruments for the environment, the European Semester process and other topics relevant for the work of GBE;
- Support the Vice Director to aid the delivery of key messages and maximize the impact of GBE’s work;
- Organisational and administrative support for organizing stakeholder events and expert workshops;
- Organisational and administrative support for running the Green Budget Europe network;
- Support for the implementation of advocacy activities on EU and Member State level;
- Event management;
- Support (e.g. content preparation) for our media, partners and wider network.
- University studies in economics, political science or environmental sciences;
- Knowledge of current economic and environmental policy;
- Basic knowledge of the European Union and its institutional structure;
- Excellent English, dynamic communication skills and the ability to convey complex messages in a simple and engaging way;
- Knowledge of the rationale behind transitioning to a green economy, the fiscal measures to achieve this, and a keen ambition to persuade policy-makers to adopt them;
- An understanding of the process known as the European Semester and EU governance structures linked to the Semester;
- Experience in the use of relevant computer programs and internet research;
- Organizational talent with the ability to work comfortably both in a team and independently.
