EU looks to hire translators

The EU Commission is looking for translators with English as their mother tongue as it faces a potential shortage of linguists, it was announced today.

Many translators who started working for the Commission in the 1970s, when Ireland joined the EEC, are approaching retirement age.

According to Mr Martin Territt, director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland said: "DG Translation, the Commission's service responsible for translating documentation is facing a major generational change. It is expected to lose at least 20% of its staff by 2015.

"At the same time, demand for translation into English has increased 45% over the last five years as 11 new official languages have been adopted by the EU.

"We need the best translators with English as a first language. Irish people are in a unique position to work in a stimulating and rewarding career in a core European institution."