Interview with candidate Sjoukje van Oosterhout #12

Who are you and where are you from?

I am Sjoukje van Oosterhout, just 26 years old, and have been living in London for almost three years where I work for an environmental organisation on the Brexit negotiations. I am originally from the northern Netherlands, but also lived in Utrecht for a while during my tenure as Dutch Youth Representative to the European Union.

Why did you put yourself up for election?

Over the past few years, I have seen for myself that the European Union is far from perfect. The European Parliament should play an important role in involving citizens in the EU, but has so far failed to do so. As a young woman with experience in Brussels, The Hague and London, I hope to give Dutch young people a voice in Europe.

What do you do in daily life?

I work as a Brexit policy advisor in London for ‘Friends of the Earth’ (known as Milieudefensie in the Netherlands). For the past two years, I have been working on the Brexit negotiations to get climate and nature as high on the agenda as possible. In addition, I have also worked to make the UK's new international trade policy more sustainable: international trade agreements should always have climate at their heart.

Have you always had political ambitions?

My father is mayor, so there were a lot of political conversations at the kitchen table. Studying International Relations at the University of Groningen and the London School of Economics got me interested in European politics. During my internship in Brussels, I saw many old grey men in positions of power who made little effort to involve young people in decisions. My position as EU Youth Representative gave me the opportunity to bridge the gap between young people and Europe. I look forward to working for my green ideals in the European Parliament.

What do you think are the most important issues in this election?

This is the climate election: with 12 years left to stop climate change, we have no time to waste in making the EU greener and more social. Infrastructure (investment in international train connections), gender equality and making international trade more sustainable are also very important to me. 

Who is your great role model?

I had the opportunity to meet Greta Thunberg in London last week. The way she represents our young generation and dares to stand up to ministers and parliamentarians is very inspiring.

Why is it important for young people to vote?

In the previous European elections, only 18% of Dutch young people came to the polls. This means that 82% were not represented in the European Parliament over the past five years, even though important decisions are made there on issues such as climate and trade. This is not surprising considering how little young people learn about the EU at school and the focus of political parties in general on older target groups. It is our job as (young) candidates to show why Europe does matter.

What do you want/can you do for young people in the European Parliament?

I think the best MEPs prefer not to be in a meeting room in Brussels or Strasbourg,but on the streets, in the classroom and at companies. Thanks to my experience as Youth Representative for European Affairs, I have had the opportunity to speak to thousands of Dutch young people on European issues in two years. I believe that by always talking to young people, you can represent them best, because then you know what is going on.

How do you plan to reach and involve young people more in European politics?

While young people are interested in European issues such as climate and politics in general, they are less interested in traditional forms of political participation. It is our job as candidates to also seek out young people who are less likely to attend debates or who are already politically active. That is why, during the campaign, I also visit schools and speak to groups of young people who are not yet eighteen.

What does your ideal Europe look like?

In my ideal Europe, the planet is always more important than profit, young people are heard and men and women are truly equal.

What is your favourite animal?

All animals are obviously important for maintaining ecosystems, but my parents' one-eyed cat is still my favourite.

What is your guilty pleasure?

When in the Netherlands, I don't leave without eating the Vegetarian Butcher's vegan sate roll. And I watch very little (Dutch) TV, but will never miss an episode of ‘Boer Zoekt Vrouw’ or ‘Ik Vertrek’.