Hello and welcome to the second series of ETIP podcast, Voices from the World of Work.

I am Bianca Luna Fabris communication officer at the ETIWI and I will be the host for this season.

Today I will be joined by Nicola Contouris, the new research director at the Institute.

Before we dive in the questions, let me just tell you a little bit more about Nicola.

He has joined the ETI in September and he is our new research director.

Nicola holds a PhD in Law from the University of Oxford and Pirates moving to Brussels.

He was Professor of Labour Law and European Law at UCL in London.

Nicola, thank you so much for agreeing to open the new season with me today

and a warm welcome from the ETUI and the

communications team. So what has been your impression at the Institute so far? Thank you very much.

Thank you for the introduction. Well, in many ways, it has confirmed what I had always suspected.

This is a unique institution, bridging the gap between academic research, the trade union

movement, EU institutions, EU policy.

So it's excellent.

But in other ways, it continues, I have to say, to surprise me, I mean, the level of dedication,

even passion that all my colleagues share for their work

and for the mission of the organization is absolutely nothing but exceptional. There are dozens of

highly qualified people that could have chosen to be anywhere, anywhere they wish from some of the top universities in Europe

and beyond or virtually any international organization of their choice, but that like me

have understood that working at the ITUI can really make a big difference and they're giving

it all. That's wonderful. Thank you. What do you think are the short-term and long-term goals of the

research department in a snapshot? I'm sure that you could probably carry on speaking out

...