EU traineeships
The Commission's Blue Book, the traineeships of the other institutions and agencies, and those in EU Delegations: who can apply, when, and what they pay.
The Blue Book traineeship (European Commission)
A five-month paid traineeship at the Commission and some other EU bodies, with two sessions a year starting in March and in October. Registration for the October 2027 session opens on 15 February 2027 at 10:00 and closes on 12 March 2027 at 10:00 (Brussels time).
- Nationality: citizens of EU Member States; citizens of candidate countries can apply only for a limited number of places in some departments.
- Studies: a completed degree of at least 180 ECTS credits (EQF level 6), with the diploma already obtained when you apply.
- Languages: EU citizens need English, French or German at C1 level and a second EU language at B2; other candidates need English, French or German at C1.
- You cannot apply if you have already worked or trained in an EU institution, body or agency for more than six weeks.
Other institutions and agencies
EU Careers lists dozens of traineeship programmes. Most are for university graduates and last five or six months. Some examples, with the monthly allowance published on EU Careers:
- Council of the EU and European Council, Brussels: 5 months from February or September, 1,538.16 EUR.
- Court of Justice of the EU, Luxembourg: 5 months from March or October, about 2,400 EUR.
- Community Plant Variety Office, Angers: 12 months from October, 1,747 EUR.
- Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, Ljubljana: 3 to 6 months from March or September, 1,332.05 EUR.
Traineeships in EU Delegations
EU Delegations offer traineeships of one to six months. Funded traineeships are for graduates with at least a bachelor's degree and less than one year of professional experience after graduating. Unfunded traineeships are for students in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year who already live and study in the host country.
Depending on the programme, they are open to EU citizens, to citizens of candidate countries that have signed an accession agreement, and to citizens of the host country. You must speak the working language of the Delegation, and you cannot apply if you have already worked or trained in an EU body for more than six weeks. Each Delegation runs its own selection.
Official sources
- European Commission – Blue Book traineeships
- Blue Book – Eligibility criteria
- EU Careers – Traineeships
- EEAS – Funded traineeships in EU Delegations (application form 2026)
Checked on 27 October 2026. Rules and figures change: the official pages and each notice always prevail. Content from europa.eu reused under CC BY 4.0 and rewritten by Kandidatu.
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