“Joining the European Parliament’s translation service in 2022 has allowed me to contribute directly to the development of the European project. As an Intercultural and Language Professional, my translations help citizens to better understand the role and functioning of Parliament in three formats: text, audio and video. In Luxembourg, I have found an open, inspiring, dynamic and growth-oriented environment. Colleagues and managers alike have welcomed me warmly, helping me feel comfortable from day one. And the mix of languages and cultures is just the icing on the cake!”

“I joined the European Commission’s translation service in 2009 after working for a decade as a journalist, following studies in biology and environmental policy.

I planned to translate for a couple of years and then explore opportunities elsewhere, but the work here has been much more varied and intellectually stimulating than I expected – so I have yet to think about leaving! Over the years I have had lots of roles, including organising events and doing internal and external outreach.

Many of my colleagues studied languages and a large number specialised in translation, but a good few of us accumulated the necessary skills on different career paths. I never studied translation and had relatively limited experience of it before the competition, but we have excellent in-house training to plug knowledge gaps. This includes training on the latest tools and technologies, such as machine translation and now AI. These have not yet removed the essential satisfaction I get from being the human mind that decides how the final translation looks.

Another major factor behind me staying in translation has been the opportunity to learn – and to regularly use – new languages.”

“I recently joined the Council with only little experience in translation, but solid language skills from my studies and previous job. The EU institutions and Brussels were unknown territory for me. However, the butterflies I felt before arriving were swept away by the warm welcome by colleagues and a well-organised onboarding programme. Since my arrival, we have received another three new colleagues of different genders, ages and backgrounds and I’m happy to see that they have all integrated just as smoothly as I did thanks to the inclusive and professional working environment in the Danish language unit.”

“Learning foreign languages has always been a passion in my life. As a matter of course, translation became the right career path to follow, enabling me to work in communication across cultures and languages.

My work as a translator at the Council of the EU allows me to practice my craft at the highest level, while serving the community of my fellow European citizens. Translating legislation and European Council conclusions, knowing the effect my work will have on people, is a truly fulfilling experience that has broadened my horizons as a professional.

Without doubt, it feels very rewarding to know that I am doing my part in shaping the future of Europe.”

“I joined the English language unit of the General Secretariat of the Council in December 2011, after passing a translators’ competition. At that point, I was translating from French, German and Spanish, and I have since added Portuguese and Czech. I particularly appreciate the variety of work in the English unit. Whereas other units predominantly translate legislation from English into their mother tongue, the English unit translates all kinds of documents from all EU official languages and edits texts written by non-native speakers. Our unit is a very friendly and welcoming place in which to work, with many opportunities for career development and learning new languages.”

“There are two elements that spring to mind when I think about why my job is rewarding and enriching: quality and multiculturalism. It’s rewarding to know that the translation unit puts quality before quantity. We are normally - political deadlines notwithstanding! - given the means and the time to ensure our work is of the highest possible standard. Linguists love spending time looking for that one word that fits just right. In addition, it’s enriching to work in an environment with people from all over Europe, so I can bounce ideas off colleagues from entirely different backgrounds and think ‘oh, wow, I’d never thought of it that way’.”

“Having grown up between Wallonia and Flanders and having later spent ten years as a young adult in Germany, multilingualism and multiculturalism have always been a part of my life. Working for the Council of the EU combines my passion for language, my multicultural background and my profound belief in the European project. My work as a French-language translator is meaningful and directly serves my fellow citizens and my continent. Due to the very political nature of the Council, deadlines are short and flexibility is required, which means our work can be challenging, but also very stimulating and rewarding.”

“Translating for the European Union is for me not only a dream job, but also a way to bring the EU closer to citizens, giving them the opportunity to read and understand in their language what our Union does for them. Quality and speed are of the essence at the Council and this is – I believe – the most thrilling part: delivering accurate texts while meeting the strict deadlines linked to the political context. From security and defence to fishing through terminology, I'm confronted every day with a variety of topics which make my work even more diverse and interesting.”

“As a former translation scholar, I have always believed that translation ought not to be a mechanical, but instead a creative endeavour, carried out by people who strive towards communicating clearly with the public in a way that is exciting and engaging.

As a language professional of the European Parliament’s Directorate for Translation, I get to dedicate my time to translating subtitles, podcasts, press releases, and many other types of texts that not only document the content of the original texts, but also resonate with the target audience.”

“After working as an audiovisual translator for 13 years, I joined the Audio and Podcasts Unit in 2020.

What I love most about my job is the variety of projects: subtitling, adapting for audio, recording podcasts, translating into clear language... Every day is different and brings new challenges!

For example, I particularly enjoyed adapting the Parlamentarium audioguide for blind and partially sighted people.

And hearing people speaking Croatian, Estonian or Finnish while I make myself a coffee is very stimulating and constantly reminds me of where I am: at the heart of Europe.

This multicultural dynamic motivates me every day.”