Q: As Minister for Europe, your job must involve a lot of liaison between the House of Commons and European parliament. What advantages are there for an aspiring politician to go into European politics rather than British politics? A: Most graduates are probably not looking to forge a career in politics by becoming MPs or MEPs. They would rather be involved in the process of contributing to policy making.  This is the role of the EU civil servant. European policy is developed by EU civil servants who need to think creatively, be at ease working in a dynamic political environment and who are able to develop policy that those at the political level can judge and implement. Those who are interested in this kind of career can work in areas as diverse as climate change, trade development or the single market, alongside people from all over Europe.Q: Are recruiters only looking for people with a background in political sciences or languages? A: No, the EU needs generalist civil servants with a wide variety of academic backgrounds including lawyers, economists, auditors, IT and other specialists. However, you do need to have a satisfactory knowledge of a second language, to a minimum of French or German A-level standard. Q: What qualities are recruiters looking for in applicants to fast stream the application process for the European institutions?  A: The European Fast Stream is designed for graduates whose ultimate ambition is to work for one of the EU institutions and become a European civil servant. Its main purpose is to ensure you get experience and training that will boost your chances of passing the EU’s recruitment competition known as the concours. Otherwise you can apply directly to EPSO (European Personnel Selection Office) to take the concours. Both routes require you to be motivated to ‘work for’ Europe. Recruiters are looking for people who have something more than just knowledge and professional skills.  Equally important is the drive to deliver results and the ability to work effectively as part of a multi-cultural team. These are careers spent surrounded by Europe’s brightest and best, in a buzzing, multicultural environment. The ability to be diplomatic and to adapt easily to a variety of environments and stakeholders is essential. It’s a fact that the EU’s institutions want more British staff because they are well-known for their quality and professionalism, for their native fluency in English and their ability to negotiate effectively.  Q: What kinds of job opportunities are available?  A: A graduate at ‘administrator’ level would be typically engaged in drafting policies and implementing EU law, analysing and advising. They may find themselves taking part in trade negotiations with non-EU countries, representing the Institutions in international forums, inspecting the fishing fleets in the Member States, developing or managing a specific scientific research programme, or drafting a decision of the European Court of Justice or the European Ombudsman. Career opportunities include administration, law, finance, economics, communications and science, because to cover the wide range of policy areas, staff are needed whose skill set reflects the incredible breadth of subject matter covered. Q: European politics has traditionally been seen as a political backwater secondary to a career in Westminster. Do you think this is still the case?A: No, I don’t think it is. There is much that the EU does that has a positive impact on the lives of UK citizens every day. Membership of this single market – the world’s largest multi-lateral trading bloc - brings significant economic opportunities to the UK. 3 million jobs (10% of the UK workforce) are directly or indirectly linked to export of goods and services to EU countries. What the EU does directly affects us all. This means that EU civil servants have extremely stimulating and varied jobs. In other words, they have a career packed from the outset with interesting, challenging, responsible work that really makes a difference: shaping the policies, creating the legislation, and negotiating the compromises which make the headlines across Europe every day. This work is every bit as important as that carried out in Whitehall. Q: What kinds of transferable skills could someone whose future career plan was to go into say the media, or a think tank acquire by working in the European Institutions? A: Firstly, working in the EU institutions brings you into contact with a wide range of people from Europe and the whole world. Such contacts can be an asset professionally as well as personally throughout any future career. It’s an environment that gives you knowledge which is in great demand in other careers, such as political and public affairs, think-tanks, media and even business. I’d also say that the skills required of a good official: clear thinking; ability to express yourself clearly and form a coherent argument [would be cultivated].