This year, the Center for Western European Studies hosted Dr. Jürgen Salay as our 2017-18 EU Fellow. Jürgen works as a civil servant for the European Commission where he monitors EU Member States compliance with their obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and by 40 % by 2030.
Jürgen had a busy year here at CES. During his stay at UW, Salay conducted research on the driving forces for local and state level climate action in the United States, and how such initiatives are shaping American climate policy. He focused his research on Washington, Oregon, and California.
In the Fall 2017, Winter 2018, and Spring 2018 quarters, he gave 17 guest lectures at different courses and other events at the UW. His lectures covered various aspects of European integration and EU affairs, including climate policy and law, environmental policy, energy policy, and international relations. He also occasionally advised students and faculty on issues related to the EU.
Jürgen judging the Euro Challenge competition
In addition, Jürgen was a judge and keynote speaker for this year’s Model EU competition, in which college students from the United States and Canada met to perform a stimulated European Council negotiation. He also acted as a judge for the Northwest regional round of this year’s Euro Challenge, in which high school student teams analyse economic challenges in select EU countries and suggest policy solutions.
On top of his UW work, Jürgen visited and lectured at various other universities and institutions, including the Washington State Legislator. He predominantly travelled on the West coast, as far south as Claremont, California and as far north as Juneau, Alaska. Jurgen also ventured over to Phoenix, Arizona, and out to Washington, DC to speak with colleagues at the EU delegation and participate in the “EU Now” podcast series.
Jürgen has now returned to Brussels to continue his work with the European Commission. He certainly will be missed here at CES!
To learn more about Jürgen’s impact and the work of past EU Fellows, see our EU Visiting Scholars page here.