On Thursday, 7 May, a delegation from the Faculty of Arts of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice travelled to Brussels for a two-day professional visit. The visit to the institutions of the European Union — the world’s largest employer of interpreters — was organised at the invitation of Zuzana Krell Laluhová, Head of the Slovak Interpreting Unit at the Directorate-General for Logistics and Interpretation for Conferences.
The first working day was dedicated to the European Parliament. Alongside a tour of the parliamentary premises for members and staff, the delegation — consisting of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof. Renáta Panocová, EU-accredited interpreter and lecturer in interpreting courses Roman Gajdoš, and students Eva Sitárová and Claudia Ciganová from the study programme English for European Institutions and Economics (French language module) — also had the opportunity to visit the interpreting booths and try interpreting during a live committee meeting. Their guide throughout the visit was Juraj Nerad, an in-house interpreter at the European Parliament, who explained the accreditation process in detail. Successfully passing these examinations opens the door for graduates to careers within European institutions. Member of the European Parliament, Miriam Lexmann, offered a different perspective on interpreting by speaking about the work of interpreters from the viewpoint of a member of parliament. She also introduced the delegation to the functioning of political groups and parliamentary committees.
The second day of the visit began at one of the most iconic locations in the European Quarter — Place Schuman. Surrounded by the Berlaymont building of the European Commission and the Council buildings Justus Lipsius, Europa, and Lex, the students, accompanied by the Dean and their interpreting lecturer, had the opportunity to visit all four institutions. The Europa building hosts meetings of heads of state and government during EU summits, while the Justus Lipsius and Lex buildings are home to the working groups of the Council of the European Union negotiating new legislation and directives. In the Berlaymont building, seat of the European Commission, the students practised interpreting from English and French under the supervision of the Head of the Slovak Interpreting Unit, who also provided them with valuable professional feedback. During a working lunch, Blanka Timurhan from the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the European Union spoke about the essential role interpreters play in negotiations involving delegations from all 27 EU member states.
As part of the programme, Prof. Renáta Panocová also held a bilateral meeting with Alicia Okoniewska, Head of the European Commission’s Unit for Cooperation with Universities. Their discussions focused on possibilities for future cooperation built on systematic partnerships, networking, and the exchange of experience. They also explored opportunities for grants and student internships. An important topic of discussion was the current development of interpreting and translation in the context of artificial intelligence. The busy two-day visit concluded at the illuminated Grand Place, one of Brussels’ most famous landmarks.
Text and photo: Mgr. Roman Gajdoš
Faculty of Arts, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Translation: Natália Rubeljová
