Efthimios Kounalakis is a senior student of International and European Studies at the University of Piraeus. His academic interests mainly revolve around European affairs with emphasis on the European Neighborhood Policy and the process of European integration, including academic research on EU policy externalization and the spillover of European acquis. He has gained practical experience and prioritizes the development of further knowledge on EU policy through various internships such as at the European Affairs Service of the House of Representatives in Cyprus, and most recently at the Directorate of Justice, Home Affairs – Schengen at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the same context, he has participated in diverse Jean Monet programs and academic initiatives to deepen his understanding of various EU policy sectors. Furthermore, he has been involved into numerous conferences of MUN and non-Mun nature around the globe, receiving multiple honors and distinctions or/and being responsible for their organization and academic supervision. At the same time, he also shares great passion for music, being a member of the Youth Academic Choir of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, trusting that fundamental music theory norms, reflect the rules of negotiation and diplomacy.