14/10/2026
Political courage, powerful conversations and women lifting each other up. That’s what Day 2 of our Female Forward Brussels Lab was all about! 🇪🇺💪🏻
From the European Parliament to connecting with liberal women from across Europe, our second day in Brussels was packed with inspiring encounters, new perspectives and plenty of female empowerment! 💗
🌟 Women, power & political courage: We kicked off the day with Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE), who shared insights into her political journey, the importance of standing your ground and what it takes to show courage in politics - especially as a woman.
🇪🇺 Behind the scenes of European politics: At the European Parliament, we met with Jan-Christoph Oetjen, who gave our participants insights into his work as a Member of the European Parliament, the realities of European decision-making and the importance of liberal voices in shaping Europe’s future. A huge thank you also to Paula Zünkler and Julia Wagner for showing us the magical spaces of the European Parliament.
🏛️ From ideas to European legislation: Back at FNF Europe, Laia Garrido took us behind the scenes of the Commission’s work. We explored how political ideas become European legislation, how decisions are shaped within the EU institutions and gained insights into the challenges and opportunities facing liberal political forces in Spain.
🤝 Stronger together, across borders: We ended the day with a special edition of FNF Europe’s Liberal Afterwork, bringing our Female Forward participants together with liberal women from Eastern and Southeastern Europe, all part of The Alliance of Her. An evening full of inspiring conversations, shared experiences and new alliances that reach far beyond national borders.
⏩ As we head into our final day, one message stands out: Political empowerment isn’t just about encouraging women to enter politics. It’s about giving them the networks, confidence and opportunities to shape it.
Because when liberal women connect across borders, they don’t just build networks. They build political power. 🚀
