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08.06.2016 15:45
A chat between interns
Laura and Liz. Two young ladies working hard under the EPP Group’s traineeship programme. They have been with the Group for five months, between January and June 2016, and are both about to venture into the big wide world. We listened in on their conversation about how they felt about their time with the EPP Group, what made it worthwhile and why other young people should apply for it.
Laura Gallego Pinero is a twenty-three-year-old Spanish trainee. From Galicia, she studied Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Santiago de Compostella, and completed her Masters in the same topic at the University of Vigo. She is a policy trainee for the Group's Legal and Home Affairs Working Group.
Elizabeth (Liz) Scott-Wilson, is a twenty-four-year-old trainee of British and Cypriot origins, who, having spent her whole life in Brussels, considers herself to be European. She studied Classics at the University of London, where she also did a Masters in European Languages, Culture and History. She is a trainee in the Press and Communications Service.
Liz: “I think that the traineeship with the EPP Group has been a wonderful experience. Five months working under the top professionals in the political field has been truly inspiring. I have worked for the Press and Communications department, specifically in the Internet and New Media Unit, and I’ve learned so much about how to use Facebook, how to use Twitter, even Instagram.”
It’s amazing how little we appreciate what goes on social media and how we can use it to create a message for the rest of the world to make them understand, truly, what the EPP Group is - and conversely how people can abuse this platform Liz
Laura: “Instagram?”
Liz: “Yes, Instagram also plays a part in politics. I would never have thought it possible. It’s amazing how little we appreciate what goes on social media and how we can use it to create a message for the rest of the world to make them understand, truly, what the EPP Group is - and conversely how people can abuse this platform. What about you, what did you think about the traineeship?”
Laura: “I think what I had to learn was very different because I was a policy trainee. In general terms, my experience within the EPP Group was so exciting from the offset. I like politics and I think that the European Parliament is the most alive and vibrant of the European Institutions because this is where European issues and debates actually take place. You have committee meetings and group meetings to make sure that they happen, but, more importantly, that they happen in the right way for the European on the street in a Member State.
As a trainee for a political group, we are more deeply immersed in the political fields we are set to work in and that’s possibly more interesting than a Schuman traineeship Laura
I think that, as a trainee for a political group, we are more deeply immersed in the political fields we are set to work in and that it’s possibly more interesting, for example, than a Schuman traineeship. I certainly feel I valued it more.”
Liz: “Well, yes. The fundamental difference between us and Schuman trainees is that we are part of a political party, and not a part of a great organism that is not allowed to have any political affiliation or make any political comments. We have a much more focused view, a much more powerful view of a particular topic at any given point. For example, the PNR debate that happened in April. Schuman trainees couldn’t say anything about it without risking presenting a politically-biased perspective, whereas we, as part of the EPP Group, could talk about it."
When it finally came to a win in plenary, I felt like my work had made a difference and all of our hard work had paid off Liz
"I think it was particularly interesting from the perspective of a Press trainee. It was a focal point for the first half of my traineeship; the department spent months talking about PNR, collecting data as a team. When it finally came to a win in plenary, I felt like my work had made a difference and all of our hard work had paid off. Hopefully it won’t meet any more obstacles.”
Laura: “Yeah. Understanding the decision-making process was the main thing I had to learn, so as to get a holistic view of how the institutions work and how European legislation actually comes into force. I couldn’t have done it without the colleagues I worked with. They really inspired me, particularly my supervisor. He really wanted me to learn as much as I possibly could, which I am incredibly grateful for."
Understanding the decision-making process was the main thing I had to learn, so as to get a holistic view of how the institutions work and how European legislation actually comes into force Laura
"I was working with the Legal and Home Affairs Working Group, which was really interesting. I was able to follow different committees such as the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Constitutional Affairs, the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, the Petitions, the Culture and Education and the Legal Affairs Committees, which debated some really interesting topics. Topics which concerned me as a woman, as a young person who has been to university, as a young person looking for work, and held my interest.”
Laura: “It’s also really fun to see politicians up close. In Spain, you see them on TV, in newspapers and things like that, but never in real life. When you come to the Parliament, you see these people walking around you and truly appreciate just how much of a multicultural hub it is here. You enter a group meeting or a committee meeting and every MEP is speaking amongst themselves in their own languages, which is mind-blowing. I also didn’t have a Spanish colleague, so I was forced to improve my English.”
Liz: “Yes, that’s really cool. It made me want to learn new languages and to find lessons in languages I would never have considered before, like Croatian and Latvian.”
You enter a group meeting or a committee meeting and every MEP is speaking amongst themselves in their own languages, which is mind-blowing. I also didn’t have a Spanish colleague, so I was forced to improve my English. Laura
Laura: “Yes. But I think that if you’re a Political Science student or just interested in politics in any way, you should apply for the traineeship. Anyway, Liz, what was the most interesting part for you?”
Liz: “I think the most interesting part of my traineeship was working for two separate teams: the Internet and New Media team, but also the Media Monitoring team. Okay, the latter took up a smaller portion of a time, but it was nonetheless interesting. For example, I didn’t realise that Spain currently has a technical government and that they’re about to open elections, nor the interesting run-off in the Austrian Presidential elections and so many other stories in Europe that, as a British expat, I wouldn’t necessarily have exposure to, which has made this a fantastic, mind-broadening experience for myself and I feel that it would be the same for everyone, regardless of their academic background."
There were so many interesting stories in Europe that, as a British expat, I wouldn’t necessarily have exposure to, which has made this a fantastic, mind-broadening experience for myself and I feel that it would be the same for everyone, regardless of their academic background Liz
"The place is, as you say, vibrant and buzzing, something’s always being discussed, there’s always a motion on the table. It’s real politics, it’s not Newsreels and videos concerning somewhere else. It’s outside your door, walking and living, drinking coffee opposite you in the canteen."
"If you could give the traineeship a mark out of ten, one being awful and ten being amazing, what would you give?”
It made me want to learn new languages and to find lessons in languages I would never have considered before Liz
Laura: “I would give it ten. I enjoyed my time here. The group of trainees was actually really big, and I think we have a special connection which we can’t lose. It was like Erasmus for trainees.”
Liz: “I never thought about it that way. You’re right! There have been trainees from all over the EU, and several from other countries like Albania, Serbia - even the USA. What’s really interesting is that the Group has so many traineeship programmes that there really is something for everyone. What about your work?”
Laura: “My supervisors were fantastic and taught me loads. I learnt how my supervisor’s assistant works, in the sense that she’s really thorough and persevering, checking and double-checking everything, and she has become a role model for me in this respect. My supervisor is both professional and personable, and I admire him for being able to juggle both aspects of his personality in such a high-pressure working environment."
"He coordinates the Legal and Home Affairs Working Group, he deals with different meetings of the Working Group and ensures that the core values are clearly laid out in the committees. Other colleagues and assistants also involved me in the organisation of a hearing, which was a real lesson for me as I’d never done something like that before.”
I feel really grateful for this opportunity and that these people have taught me valuable skills that I could use in a company, in a business, in another political group - basically any profession that I choose in the future Laura
Liz: “Could you explain the difference between a hearing and a group or committee meeting to me? I didn’t really get the difference.”
Laura: “Sure, a hearing is an event where the different groups hear evidence for their political positions. They invite representatives of industry and trade associations to come and speak about the subject that they want information on."
"I feel really grateful for this opportunity and that these people have taught me valuable skills that I could use in a company, in a business, in another political group, basically any profession that I choose in the future. What about you, what grade would you give?”
Learning how to use Social Media, how to write articles and draft notes has really given me an invaluable insight into a new career path. I feel that the experience will speak for itself and that a company will take me on without a degree in journalism. Liz
Liz: “No one’s going to believe two tens! I feel that I’ve learnt so much, gained so much experience and grown as a person that I couldn’t give anything less. I could possibly take half a point away because I kept getting lost in the buildings, but I think that learning how to use Social Media, how to write articles and draft notes has really given me an invaluable insight into a new career path. I studied Classics and was a teacher for a brief period, but I nearly enrolled myself into a Communications course. I didn’t because I feel that, in the end, the experience will speak for itself and that a company will take me on without a degree in journalism.”
I felt like I could apply the analytical and research skills I’d acquired to the situations we had to deal with the in the Press department Liz
Laura: “Do you feel like your degree held you back because it wasn’t Political Science or Law or any of the traditional ones, then?”
Liz: “Not at all. I felt that my degree, which comprised Latin, Ancient Greek, the history, politics and religion of one brief era of history, was actually applicable to what I did here. I felt like I could apply the analytical and research skills I’d acquired in doing it to the situations we had to deal with in the Press department. It was interesting to take Cicero’s speeches and compare them to a plenary session, for example.”
Liz: “I think the traineeship really brings Brussels to life, actually. As a Brit, one of my key concerns at the moment is the Brexit question, and it’s fascinating to see that it’s not just a ‘bunch of bureaucrats in Brussels taking all the decisions for us’, but democratically-elected MEPs and Heads of State in the Council who actually preside over how the law is made, taking into account what is best for the Member State. It highlights how misunderstood I think the EU actually is. I think it’s massively important for those who don’t understand the EU to come and experience this, just as much, if not more so, than those who do."
"Did you do anything non-political while you were here?”
The traineeship really brings Brussels to life, actually. I think it’s massively important for those who don’t understand the EU to come and experience this, just as much, if not more so, than those who do Liz
Laura: “Well, we mentioned the other trainees, who are the best colleagues ever. We did so much as a group and there are so many moments and memories that I will take back to Spain with me and I will never forget. You?”
It was like Erasmus for trainees Laura
Liz: “I agree with you about the trainees and the time we spent here, but you can also make some incredible friendships with your colleagues in departments. I helped with the annual Open Days this year and it was incredibly good fun and very amusing to see colleagues throwing sponge footballs at each other or handing out balloons, painting faces. This is a political party that lives by its slogan. These guys truly ‘Believe in People’. They are the most human team I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with."
"Finally, a sentence for any potential future trainees?”
Throw in an application and see where it gets you, because this will be one of the best, most intense internships you will ever do Liz
Laura: “I would say that this is the single best experience of my life and that I would encourage everyone to do it. Your turn, Liz.”
Liz: “Do it. Throw in an application and see where it gets you, because this will be one of the best, most intense internships you will ever do. There is something for everyone, between the policy and press teams, so you will never find yourself in the wrong place.”
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