Irish in Brussels go back to school

List of participating schools attached

Brussels can seem a long way from Galway, Donegal and West Cork, but that’s exactly where some senior Irish officials in the EU are headed this week.

More than 90 of the Irish people working in Brussels are coming home to visit their old schools and talk to the transition years and other senior students about how the EU works and career opportunities available.

"This is the second time Irish EU officials have taken part in the 'Back-to-School' activity, with numbers up on last year. It's clear that Irish people working for the EU are really keen on taking part and letting young people know what is out there for them.", said Barbara Nolan, newly appointed Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland.

Amongst them is Galway's Eoin O'Shea who is Ireland's new Member of the Court of Auditors, the EU's body for financial control. He will be going back to see the students at Garbally College, Ballinasloe. Dublin's David O'Sullivan is Director-General for EU Trade policy and in charge of negotiating for the EU at WTO. He will be back to school at St Mary's in Rathmines, Dublin.

All in all, more than 90 Irish EU officials will be taking part in the "Back to School" activities this year - from translators to scientific researchers and financial managers to vets. They will get the chance to talk to young people at home and hear their views.

It's also a chance to let students know about careers in the EU, the challenge of living and working abroad as well as issues of broader interest such as climate change and the EU's response to the economic crisis.

Background: The 'Back to School' initiative is taking place across the EU. It all started in 2007 when the German officials went 'back to school' to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and it proved so popular that it has expanded every year, with more and more people taking part. This year, "Back to School" is taking place in nine EU countries with more than six hundred European officials taking part.