What's this European Union thingy doing for me?: is a question I have often asked myself in recent times, but to be honest I never bothered looking for an answer. Yes, I know Ireland is a member of the EU but why should I care about that? I myself have no great interest in politics. C.S.P.E class was the worst start imaginable to my Friday mornings in school. Then I thought of all the things that are important to me. Things like my education and employment, the environment and my health and I decided to investigate what exactly the European Union is doing to contribute to mine and other teenagers' interests.

I suppose I should start off by explaining what the EU basically is : A group of European countries that have agreed common laws on a wide range of subjects. It was set up after World War 11, to build peace among the European countries and its role is to support governments in making decisions where it would make more sense to work together than as individual countries.

I was surprised to discover that young people actually benefit greatly from being members of the European Union. As an EU citizen you can work, live and study in any other EU member state! This means we can go to college in any of the great European cities, which would provide a nice change of scene from running to class in the freezing, wet weather that we enjoy here in Ireland. Wouldn't it be lovely to stroll by the Eiffel Tower, the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the air on your way to college each morning in Gay Paris? Or perhaps enjoying a quick trip to the shops in Milan on your way home each afternoon? And with the extra Euros in your pocket as a result of the cheaper flights and phone costs enjoyed by travelling EU citizens, you'll no doubt be the best dressed student on campus! After finding out this information, I must admit the prospect of continued study after the Leaving Cert doesn't seem so unattractive. The EU has also ensured that our qualifications will be recognized in all member states, so we can work in any country we want without hassle!

If you're unlucky enough to get sick while over there, don't worry. The EU provides every citizen with a free European Health Insurance Card, which entitles us to free or reduced-cost health care in other European countries. A single emergency number -112- can be used all over Europe, which is very convenient for scatter-brained students, who, even after a whole week's (partying) ... sorry, "studying", could still manage to remember this number! Yes, the EU has thought of everything!

It has also done lots to help ensure our health and well-being, even ordering mp3 and mobile phone makers to turn down their volume because of the risk of deafness to millions of teenagers! It is also actively working to address key issues which affect young people's health in areas such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs. So young people and their well-being seem to be a high priority for the EU.

As well as helping us for now, the EU is also working for our future. This means looking after our planet and protecting the environment, so that we and generations to come can grow up in a safe and wellpreserved world. Now, I'm all for saving the environment but I have to admit that I'd much rather be taken everywhere in the car than hop on that cobweb-covered bike that's been lying, undisturbed in the garage for years! But after all, global warming and climate change affects us all and it's really important we do something about it. Every year Europe generates 1.3 billion tonnes of waste! Ireland particularly, produces a very high amount of waste. The EU is doing its best to reduce this amount and thereby help combat climate change.

The Energy Rating System on appliances like washing machines and ovens is another good idea put into practice by the EU to make products more efficient and friendly to the environment. The EU has also provided Ireland with funding to invest in renewable energy schemes like wind farms and hydroelectric dams. Partly thanks to these grants Ireland is on its way to a clean and less-polluted environment, which benefits all of us.

However, we must play our part too. The EU has set some environmental policies for Ireland to follow, which will keep us on the straight and narrow as we work to improve our environment. For example we must reduce our greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020, ensure that our water remains drinkable and that our blue-flag beaches stay clean. This will be more difficult than it sounds, but it's a small price to pay for our future! These steps will help us here in Ireland, by giving us a safer, cleaner environment and a wider range of energy-efficient products. As an added bonus, there is potential for thousands of jobs to be created in Green Energy- a very important consideration in today's economic climate! But most important of all, generations to come will still enjoy the beautiful, green Ireland we all know and love. It's great to know that someone is looking out for us and thinking about our future.

So, what's this European Union thingy doing for me? Quite a lot, I've discovered, but much of it goes unnoticed. Like the typical teenager that I am, I've been taking for granted all the benefits the EU provides, from giving us amazing opportunities to travel and study, to making sure we don't damage our ears listening to music! Now that I've a better understanding of the EU's purpose, I'm starting to think that politics isn't so boring after all! I'm an EU citizen and proud of it!