When applied to the practice of translating for the European institutions, several central concepts of Translation Studies are seen in a different light. Work at these institutions reveals unexpected complexities, which have implications for translation theory. Researching EU translation can thus be used as a test case against which to measure and refine the theoretical apparatus of translation theory. At the same time, research can support practice by providing a theoretically informed global view of the everyday work of EU translators. The aim is to instigate critical interaction between translation theory and the practice of EU translation.