Patrick Costello served as a European Union (EU) official for 27 years working in the European Parliament, European Commission and EEAS, and has served in a number of private offices, including those of Chris Patten, Vice-President Margot Wallström (as deputy Head of Cabinet), EP President Josep Borrell (as diplomatic adviser) and Karmenu Vella (as Head of Cabinet). Other jobs have included EEAS head of division for democracy and electoral observation, head of division for the Middle East and deputy to the Chair of the Political and Security Committee. He has recently also joined the advisory boards of the European Partnership for Democracy and Election-Watch.EU.
Patrick graduated from Oxford University in 1987 with a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. He started his career as a human rights campaigner for Central America, and prior to joining the European Institutions, he worked for the UN in Haiti (MICIVIH) and as an electoral observer in South Africa (UNOMSA).