Karen Melchior is a Senior Advisor in the Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation, and Digital Economy (GRID) unit at CEPS. Her work focuses on tech policy and democracy, including disinformation, artificial intelligence, enlargement, and European digital public infrastructure.
Before joining CEPS, she served as a Member of the European Parliament (2019-2024), where she was a key figure in the Renew Europe Group. As a member of the Legal Affairs (JURI) and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) committees, she specialised in digital regulation, consumer protection, and fundamental rights in the digital space. She played an instrumental role in developing EU policies on digital transformation while championing gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights.
Her diplomatic career spans over a decade, including service as a Danish diplomat in London (2009-2012). During this period, she developed expertise in tech diplomacy and was at the forefront of using social media in public diplomacy.
She has been actively involved in European integration initiatives, with a special focus on Eastern Europe and Ukraine’s EU accession process. Her work has consistently emphasised the importance of democratic values and human rights in EU external relations.
Karen holds a Master of Laws from Copenhagen University (2005) and completed a joint program, earning a Master of Public Institution Communication from CELSA Paris-Sorbonne and an International Diploma in Public Administration from ENA — École Nationale Administration (2009).
She is a native Danish speaker fluent in English and French, with a working knowledge of German.