Traineeships in the EU institutions, bodies and agencies

The EUDA traineeship programmes aims to:

• give young university graduates the opportunity of experiencing the general objectives and process of European integration;
• provide trainees with practical knowledge of the workings of a European agency;
• enable trainees to acquire practical experience and knowledge of the day-to-day work of the EUDA and its units;
• provide trainees with the opportunity to work in a diverse and multilingual environment, contributing to the development of mutual understanding, trust and tolerance;
• enable trainees to put into practice the knowledge they have acquired during their studies or professional careers.

Who can apply: University graduates who are citizens of EU Member States, Norway and Turkey

Duration: 3-8 months

Paid: Depending on budget

Starting Dates: Ongoing

Read more details on the Traineeship policy.

The European Court of Auditors organises two traineeship sessions per year in areas of interest to its work.

Who can apply: EU nationals who either hold a recognised university-level diploma or who have completed at least four semesters of university study in an area of interest to the Court (Audit, Budget, Accounting, Administration, Human Resources, Translation, Communication, International Relations, Legal).

Duration: between 3 and 6 months.

Paid:  1 600 euros/month.

Starting Dates: 1 April and 1 October, every year.

Every year, the Court of Justice of the European Union offers a limited number of paid traineeships in the chambers of Members of the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union and in the administrative departments of the Court.

Traineeships in the chambers of Members of the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union last for between three and five months. They begin on the first or sixteenth day of the month during the two periods referred to below. Traineeships in the administrative departments of the Court last for five months and start on the first day of the first month of each of the two periods referred to below.

Traineeships in the Court's administrative departments are generally undertaken in the Directorate for Legal Translation, the Research and Documentation Directorate, the Communication Directorate, the Protocol and Visits Directorate, the office of the Legal Adviser on Administrative Matters, the Registry of the General Court or the Interpretation Directorate (for detailed rules regarding traineeships in the Interpretation Directorate, see below).

Who can apply: Graduates in law, political sciences (majority content, law) economics or an associated field or, for traineeships in the Interpretation Directorate, a diploma in conference interpreting.

Applicants must have a thorough knowledge of one official language of the European Union and a good knowledge of another official language. In view of the nature of the working environment, a good knowledge of French is desirable.

Duration: between 3 and 5 months

Paid: Yes. Around 1468  € per month

Starting Dates:

• 1 March to 31 July (applications to be made between 1 July and 15 September of each year)
• 16 September to the end of February for the traineeships in the Members' chambers and 1 October to the end of February for the traineeships in the administrative departments (applications to be made between 1 February and 15 April of each year)

Interpreting traineeships are primarily aimed at newly qualified conference interpreters whose language combination is of interest to the Interpretation Directorate. The aim is to enable newly qualified interpreters to be supervised as they perfect their interpreting skills, particularly in legal interpreting, which involves the preparation of case-files, terminological research and practical exercises in a ‘silent booth'.

Who can apply: Newly qualified conference interpreters with a diploma in conference interpreting and the ability to read French

Duration: 10-12 weeks

The objectives of the internships are to provide trainees with work experience in the administration of co-operation in the field of education and training, to gain an insight of the ETF' objectives and activities and to allow them to put their learning into practice.

Who can apply: Citizens of both the EU Member States and the ETF' partner countries.

Duration: 6 months

Paid: Yes

Starting Dates: Ongoing

This traineeship programme is intended for university graduates who, in the course of their studies or in some other manner, have already gained some initial experience in the areas of work of the Office.

Who can apply: Nationals of EU Member States and from non EU countries, who have completed at least the first cycle of a higher education course certified by an official document from the University and have a working knowledge of one of Office's five working languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).

Duration: 2-6 months

Paid: No.

Starting Dates: Ongoing

The EUIPO offers grant-assisted traineeships to junior staff from national and international industrial property offices. These placements offer technical training in specific areas of IP administration, with particular regard to trade marks and designs. They offer the opportunity to learn about the EUIPO's e-registration services, observe management techniques and strategies and understand EUIPO's databases and technical knowledge. Trainees also work in other specific areas of expertise such as human resources, communications or information technology.

Who can apply: Nationals of EU Member States and from non EU countries, who have completed at least the first cycle of a higher education course certified by an official document from the University and have a working knowledge of one of Office's five working languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).

Duration: 5 months

Paid: Yes.

Starting Dates: Ongoing

This traineeship programme is intended to provide young professionals with practical experience of the European Union in general and the EUIPO in particular as well as to enable them to put into practice knowledge acquired during their studies and first professional experiences, and in particular in their specific areas of competence.

Who can apply: Nationals of EU Member States and from non EU countries, who have completed at least the first cycle of a higher education course certified by an official document from the University and have a working knowledge of one of Office's five working languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).

Duration: 12 months and 2 weeks.

Paid: Yes.

Starting Dates: Between 1 September and 15 October.

This scheme gives young university graduates a unique first-hand experience of the European Union in general and the Office in particular. It is also an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge acquired during their studies, in particular in their specific areas of competence. In addition, it helps them understand the objectives and procedures relating to the European Union trade mark and Community design system, as well as to IP infringement and enforcement matters.

Who can apply: Nationals of EU Member States and from non EU countries, who have completed at least the first cycle of a higher education course certified by an official document from the University and have a working knowledge of one of Office's five working languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish).

Duration: 12 months

Paid: Yes.

Starting Dates: Ongoing

The European Commission traineeship programme is open to university graduates, from all over the world. The locations for traineeships are Brussels (Belgium), Grange (Ireland), Luxembourg (Luxembourg), and agencies and services in the EU Member States.

Traineeships are available in a wide range of fields and offer a great insight into the work of the EU. The content of the job largely depends on the service in which each trainee carries out his/her traineeship. Services may operate for instance in the fields of competition law, human resources, environmental policy, communication and many more.

Trainees are given the same sort of tasks as newly-recruited graduates. In practice, that can include for instance organising working groups and meetings, compiling information and documentation, preparing reports and answering queries, as well as participating in unit meetings and other events.

Who can apply: Graduates of any discipline can apply as long as their degree has already been awarded (a transcript can normally be provided if the certificate has not yet been awarded). EU citizenship is not obligatory (a small number of places are reserved for non-EU citizens), but knowledge of two EU languages is required. Work experience and postgraduate education is a plus, but not an eligibility criterion.

Are you a person with a disability who wants to gain valuable professional experience in the EU institutions? Blue Book Internships at the European Commission are just for you!

The European Commission’s Traineeships Office has a number of measures in place supporting and helping trainees with a disability. The Traineeships Office is committed to closely accompany these trainees, in full confidentiality.

Why is it worth applying?

• Financial support: An increase in monthly grant is provided (up to 50%), based on the assessment of the documentation you provide to the Traineeships Office (official reference document).
• Adapting the workplace: Candidates who need special adjustments for reasonable accommodation (due to a disability) can benefit from dedicated measures. If you have a disability that may require reasonable accommodations during your traineeship, please inform the Traineeships Office.
• Support and networks: the Traineeships Office works together with Commission staff networks active in diversity and inclusion matters to bring about positive change by advancing diversity and inclusion in the EU institutions. These networks warmly welcome trainees to join them during their internship. They act as a contact point for candidates that would like to discuss confidential personal issues linked to diversity and inclusion that would impede them from applying to the traineeships scheme. ASDEC: Association of Staff with a Disability in the European Commission: EC-STAFF-DISABILITY-ASDEC@ec.europa.eu

The European Commission is convinced that diversity enriches its work and therefore strives to make people with disabilities feel welcome and supported during their internship. Join as a Blue Book intern and become part of an inclusive team that appreciates the diversity of talent!

Duration: 5 months

Paid: Yes. €1.376,89 per month (adjusted per session).

Starting Dates: 1 March and 1 October.

Learn also about the Junior Professionals Programme (JPP): Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) - European Commission (europa.eu)