The Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission ('DG Environment') was set up in 1973 to protect, preserve and improve Europe's environment for present and future generations. Its policies protect natural habitats, defend clean air and water and help European businesses move towards a sustainable economy.
The DG also makes sure that member states apply EU environmental law correctly. This means helping member atates comply with the legislation, and investigating complaints made by EU citizens and non-governmental organisations. The commission has the power to take legal action if it seems that EU environment law has been infringed
If you want to work on environmental issues the EU is the place where you can really shape laws and attitudes, as Christian Hudson, DG Environment states:
"Nearly all of the UK's environment policy is shaped in Brussels...across climate, recycling, emissions, industrial and innovation policy."
And not just the UK, nearly all of environmental policy in Europe is shaped in Brussels. So if you really want to make a difference to environmental policy, join the EU.
MY EU career: Christian Hudson
Employer: European Commission
Occupation: Drafting policy to green the EU economy, DG Environment
Subject studied: Law, economics at Cambridge University
I'm changing policy across so many areas of the EU's and UK's work.
After five years as a corporate lawyer, I wanted to shape laws rather than be shaped by them. I joined the European Fast Stream and after only two years in Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was seconded to the chief economist's unit in DG Environment.
Nearly all of the UK's environment policy is shaped in Brussels, and for five years I was working with the policy leads across climate, recycling, emissions, industrial and innovation policy to improve the new policy proposals coming out of the Commission. We also run a sideline in the strategic thinking to set the direction for new policies. In both, I could bring the knowledge of what works, and how things work in the UK to the EU.
My work is now the new Commissioner's number one priority, working with people all across the Commission to pull together the policy that the EU needs to redirect its economic growth so that it's sustainable for jobs and the environment. I never thought I would have such responsibility so quickly.
The Commission is a mix of amazing opportunities for individuals to use their initiative to make a really significant difference, and the need for cunning political wrangles to make the most of them. More so than the UK civil service.
So much in cross-cutting policy making is about networks, and joining the EFS gave me an excellent network of great people, both in Brussels and across the UK government that I can call to get information, on policy and on gossip.
If I hadn't joined the EFS, I wouldn't have ended up in Brussels, which has been the best professional development experience I have had. While the ex-pat life is a whirl of fascinating people, and I could stay here until I retire, I know that bringing my knowledge of how things work in Brussels back to London will be great for getting good results for the UK and the global environment.
The European Fast Stream (EFS) is a UK civil service scheme where British nationals can join the UK civil service for a period of two years where they can work on European related issues and receive help, training and guidance on how to pass the concours. The ultimate goal of the EFS is to get those who are on the scheme to join the EU civil service. For more information, click here.
Content produced by EU Careers.
