The Jury

Simone Veil Prize Jury

The 2026 jury has now been selected. Its 15 members are presented here.

The jury’s composition reflects a careful balance of professional expertise, geographical representation, gender, age, and diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Meet the jury

Meet the
2026 jury

The 2026 jury brings together 15 professionals with expertise in Jewish cultural heritage and research, civil society, education, public engagement, public policy and youth leadership.

The jury is central to the integrity and credibility of the Simone Veil Prize. Bringing together independent experts from across Europe, its members ensure that every eligible application is considered with care, fairness and respect for the values of the Prize.

Meet the 2026 jury
Responsibilities

The role
of the jury

Jury members contribute to a fair, transparent and rigorous evaluation process. Drawing on their varied professional and cultural perspectives, they:

review and assess eligible applications against the published evaluation criteria;

identify the projects that most strongly reflect the values and ambitions of the Simone Veil Prize;

participate in collective deliberations;

select up to 25 finalists; and

select the five Grand Prix winners, one in each Prize category.

Guiding principles

Throughout the process, jury members are expected to exercise independent judgement and treat every application fairly and consistently.

They must respect the confidentiality of the evaluation process, remain impartial and declare any actual or potential conflict of interest.

The jury’s international and multidisciplinary composition allows applications to be considered from a range of perspectives while maintaining a shared commitment to quality, integrity and the principles of the Prize.

Throughout the process, jury members are expected to exercise independent judgement and treat every application fairly and consistently.

They must respect the confidentiality of the evaluation process, remain impartial and declare any actual or potential conflict of interest.

The jury’s international and multidisciplinary composition allows applications to be considered from a range of perspectives while maintaining a shared commitment to quality, integrity and the principles of the Prize.

Process

How we evaluate

Applications progress through three stages.

1

Eligibility

Before applications are submitted to the jury, the Secretariat checks that each applicant and project meets the requirements set out in the Call for Entries.

Only eligible applications proceed to the jury’s evaluation.

2

Evaluation

Eligible projects are reviewed by jury members against the published criteria. These include:

Contribution to intercultural dialogue, social participation and democratic resilience;

Engagement with communities and diverse audiences;

Promotion of shared European values and cultural understanding; and

Social impact and relevance.

Particular attention is given to projects that highlight lesser-known narratives, encourage Intergenerational exchange, empower young people and adopt inclusive and participatory approaches.

3

Final selection

Following individual assessment and collective deliberation, the jury selects up to 25 finalists. From these finalists, five Grand Prix winners are chosen, one in each Prize category.

Finalists announced October 2026.

Grand Prix winners announced
at the award ceremony in December 2026.

Why participate?

Joining the Jury is opportunity to:

Contribute to the recognition
of outstanding cultural initiatives;

Engage with a European
network of experts;

Support the transmission
of heritage and shared values;

Help amplify projects and stories that strengthen dialogue and understanding across Europe.

Who can apply?

Become a juror

The Simone Veil Prize welcomes applications from professionals with relevant experience who would like to contribute to a fair, transparent and high-quality evaluation process. Jury applications are open throughout the year.

Apply for the 2027 edition

Apply
as a juror

Applications are open year-round – submissions now will be considered for the 2027 edition

Download and complete the Jury Application Form and read the Code of Ethics before submitting your application, together with your CV.

Download jury applications form
Download code of ethics

    Who we are looking for

    Jewish cultural heritage and research;

    Civil society and non-governmental organisations;

    Education and academia;

    Public engagement, including human rights, democracy, equality and social justice;

    Public policy and governance; and

    Youth leadership and intergenerational initiatives.

    Jewish cultural heritage and research;
    Civil society and non-governmental organisations;
    Education and academia;
    Public engagement, including human rights, democracy, equality and social justice;
    Public policy and governance; and
    Youth leadership and intergenerational initiatives.
    Candidates must

    Have at least five years of relevant professional experience, or three years for candidates under 30;

    Demonstrate experience in at least one relevant project;

    Have a strong understanding of cultural and/or Jewish heritage in a European context;

    Have experience of at least one project corresponding to the Prize’s scope of work;

    Have recognised experience in public engagement or inclusive approaches; and

    Be legally domiciled in, or be a citizen of, a country participating in the Creative Europe Programme.

    Have at least five years of relevant professional experience, or three years for candidates under 30;
    Demonstrate experience in at least one relevant project;
    Have a strong understanding of cultural and/or Jewish heritage in a European context;
    Have experience of at least one project corresponding to the Prize’s scope of work;
    Have recognised experience in public engagement or inclusive approaches; and
    Be legally domiciled in, or be a citizen of, a country participating in the Creative Europe Programme.
    Your role

    Reviewing and assessing applications;

    Participating in collective deliberations; and

    Selecting the finalists and Prize winners.

    Reviewing and assessing applications;
    Participating in collective deliberations; and
    Selecting the finalists and Prize winners.
    Expected to

    Work collaboratively within an international and multidisciplinary team;

    Respect the principles of confidentiality, impartiality and the prevention of conflicts of interest; and

    Commit to the full evaluation period, including online sessions and the award ceremony.

    This is a voluntary role. Jurors invited to attend the award ceremony will have their travel and accommodation expenses covered.

    Work collaboratively within an international and multidisciplinary team;
    Respect the principles of confidentiality, impartiality and the prevention of conflicts of interest; and
    Commit to the full evaluation period, including online sessions and the award ceremony.

    This is a voluntary role. Jurors invited to attend the award ceremony will have their travel and accommodation expenses covered.