Biography:
Juraj Antal (27) was born in Bojnice, Slovakia. He studied at the University of New York in Prague, where he received his BA in International European Economic Studies. He continued with an MA in International Political Economy at the University of Warwick, England, where he graduated 2009. During his studies, Juraj was involved with the student council in Prague, where he was elected Vice-president. He represented the University in International Debating Competitions, for which he received the University’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2007 Juraj went for a semester at the Georgetown University in Washington D.C., as part of the program with the US based Fund for American Studies.
Juraj interned for Kodak in the government affairs office in Washington D.C., and worked for the Boston Consulting Group in Prague. During his studies he interned at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Prague office as well as in the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of American States. Most recently Juraj worked in Brussels in a private government affairs company and jointly represented EDS as Policy Director.
His involvement with EDS started with Winter University in Bucharest, 2008 and since then he became International Secretary of ODM Slovakia (April 2008), a position he holds currently. In the Summer University 2009 he was nominated to the position of Policy Director. Juraj organised with the help of his colleagues from ODM Slovakia the EDS Summer University 2010 in Žilina, Slovakia, where he was elected Vice Chairman. In his field of responsibility – External representation and Membership, he represented EDS on numerous international fora and seminars. He opened communication with new stakeholders, where EDS found support for its values and activities.
Responsibilities within the Bureau:
External Representation, contact to like-minded organisations, contact to member organisations
The Chairman is responsible for the all over representation of the organisation towards its members, to organisations where EDS is a member of or where EDS is affiliated to like the EPP, the Robert Schuman Institute, the IYDU, the European Youth Forum and towards partners like YEPP, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, International Republican Institute, Robert Schuman Foundation, Centre for European Studies, EPP Group, EPP Group in the Committee of Regions. He exercises the membership rights in the respective bodies.
Chairing of meetings
The Chairman is summoning up and chairing the Council Meetings, the Bureau Meetings and the meetings during the events. He convenes the EDS members if necessary and consults serious issues with the Secretary General, the Bureau, the Bureau with Non-Executive Members, the Council and all the member organisations (in this order).
Monitoring of projects
He is monitoring the projects and activities; he sets deadlines and is reported upon. He is responsible for the cooperation and coordination of EDS activities and their set in a framework.
Fundraising
The Chairman is in charge of having the EDS activities funded and granting new partners, donors and promoters. He is supporting the Secretary General in his fundraising work
EDS is a member association of