Alumni Corner: An Interview with Mathilde Flamant

By Abigail LaBreck

Mathilde Flamant is a French citizen, currently based in Paris, and working as a European Negotiation Specialist at the French Interior Ministry. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in European Affairs in the New Technologies, Digital, and Public Policy stream at Sciences Po Paris. Mathilde also holds a Master’s degree in International and European Law from Université Toulouse 1 Capitole and two Bachelors of Laws from Bangor University (UK) and Université Toulouse 1 Capitole (France).

Could you please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a bit about your journey to where you are today?

I am a French citizen who grew up moving around for a bit. I have a legal background, having studied in France and the UK. Now I am at Sciences Po studying European affairs. During my time at Sciences Po I took a gap year during which I was in the Executive Board of European Horizons. I am about to graduate from Sciences Po and I am working at the French Interior Ministry on European negotiations for the Digital Transformation Agency. I came back from the UK right after Brexit and COVID and studying in the UK during this time demonstrated that we cannot take the EU for granted because there were so many challenges during this time.

What was your experience like at European Horizons? What was your role and do you have a particular highlight from your time with the organization?

I joined European Horizons back in 2018 and the organization has really evolved over time. At the beginning I joined as a member of the local chapter at my university in Toulouse that had just been created. I then became Communication Manager for the Toulouse chapter. When I moved to the UK, I also joined the local chapter at Bangor University which was created a few years before I arrived. When I moved back to Paris and was planning my gap year, I joined the Executive Board as Director of Sponsorship.

I have many good memories and highlights from my time with European Horizons, but if I chose just one it would have to be the first event I attended with European Horizons which was the policy competition in Prague in March 2019. We addressed the topic of online disinformation and its impact on transatlantic relations as well as on the upcoming european elections, which I found to be particularly interesting. Also meeting other students that I had been corresponding with from other chapters and experiencing very concretely the work of European Horizons were definitely highlights of the event. I remember it was also the starting point for my interest in digital platforms and their impact on democracy as it was my first deep dive into work in this area.

Following your time at European Horizons, what did you embark upon next? How did your experience at EuH impact this next step?

I think my time at European Horizons made it crystal clear that I would pursue a career in European affairs. I also had the realization that the private sector is quite proactive on transatlantic cooperation. Especially as Director of Sponsorship at EuH, I had to reach out to various private sector companies and think tanks and witnessed their enthusiasm to engage with and support the work of European Horizons, as it is a unique policy incubator for young people. This enthusiasm, however, was less obvious when I interacted with the public sector, which nourished my interest in joining the French public sector so I could see for myself what the stance is toward European integration and transatlantic cooperation within a ministry working on European topics.

Now, at the digitization agency of the French Ministry of the Interior, I work on European information systems where I can apply my knowledge in the specific domain of digital policy. In this work, I further developed the perspective that digital is really a transformative means to achieve various aims, whether it be security improvement, environmental protection, foreign industries, and so on. I think European and transatlantic cooperation is essential to move forward on these topics to share knowledge. In my current work, I am curious to see the roles specific countries, such as France, can play in facilitating transatlantic cooperation. For example, on many legislative issues, the EU plays a very important regulatory role. When you look at the AI Act, for instance, it is important to understand the transatlantic dynamics and observe that the relationship goes both ways and is more equal than we might think.

Keeping your interests in digital in mind, looking ahead, what worries you the most about the future of the transatlantic relationship?

2024 is a super important election year, with over 60 countries voting. Not only will there be European elections, but also elections in the US, UK, Russia, and India, that might really shift the current world order which is something we really need to pay attention to. It is important that we do not take for granted what we have today because in maybe a year’s time things could be very different. In terms of elections, the rise of fascism and the far-right also greatly concerns me because we saw that the 2016 election of Donald Trump had severe effects on transatlantic cooperation as well as on many other levels. If far-right parties perform strongly in upcoming elections in the EU and if Donald Trump is elected again, there is a great risk for our democracies and state of laws, which will place international cooperation on edge. That is why associations, like European Horizons, and NGOs really have a role to play in educating and raising awareness about the importance of this cooperation.

To conclude, what advice would you give to current EuH members and young professionals looking to enter the world of European and transatlantic affairs?

I think my main advice is we need people from various backgrounds working on transatlantic relations, not just political science or law. If you feel like it is one of your interests, even if you are an engineer or a historian, for example, there is a need for varied expertise especially in the field of digital transformation and transatlantic relations. It is important to remember that your graduate studies do not define your path for the rest of your life and you can explore and contribute to new fields in many ways. If you feel like you want to pursue transatlantic relations or European affairs, just reach out to, exchange with, and learn from those working in the field. We definitely need young people to be involved. There is space for everyone.

Abigail LaBreck is a Deputy Director of Publications at European Horizons, currently pursuing a Master’s in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs. She holds a joint BA in Government and French from Harvard College. Her research interests include transatlantic technology cooperation, US-France relations, and the role of cultural diplomacy/soft power in international relations.