Legal Officer - European Commission (FGIV, Brussels)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Commission on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Provide legal advice and guidance to the EU finance community on EU budget implementation
• Draft legal documents such as legislative proposals, contractual templates and guidance notes
• Deliver training and promote knowledge sharing
• Develop and advise on financial rules for directly managed EU programmes
• Participate in drafting, negotiation and interpretation of the EU Financial Regulation
• Work on legal matters related to EU public procurement, grants, prizes, and association agreements

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma
• Experience: Legal background and/or experience with drafting legal documents such as contracts; knowledge of and/or experience with management of rules and procedures for implementing the EU budget, in particular directly managed programmes using eGrants; knowledge of the Financial Regulation applicable to the EU budget
• Languages: One of the 24 official EU languages (C1), A second official EU language (B2)
• Key skills: Ability to translate complex ideas into clear and concise language, Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing, Good understanding of legal, financial and operational issues related to EU budget implementation, Team player, Highly motivated and proactive
• Eligibility: Citizen of an EU Member State enjoying full rights as a citizen; fulfilled obligations concerning military service; physically fit to perform duties; appropriate character references; passed an EPSO CAST in Function Group IV

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Registration in EPSO CAST database
• Selection of candidates from EPSO database
• Interview with selection panel

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 1 year, renewable one or more times up to a maximum duration of 6 years.

Working arrangements: Brussels.

Hiring unit: Unit BUDG.E2 - Financial Rules: Direct Management, CFS Helpdesk, training and RUF, Directorate-General for Budget (DG B….

Position details

Reference

EC-2026-BUDG-464677

Directorate-General

BUDG – Budget

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Legal Officer at European Commission based in Brussels at the FGIV grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is EC-2026-BUDG-464677. It is hosted by BUDG – Budget, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Budget And Finances domain.

Legal Officer (FGIV)

Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG) of the European Commission

Job title: Legal Officer Domain: BUDGET and FINANCES, LAW Where : Unit BUDG.E2 - Financial Rules: Direct Management, CFS Helpdesk, training and RUF Brussels Function Group : FG IV Contract Type : 3b Express your interest until : 22.09.2026 - 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

DG BUDG is responsible for managing the budget of the European Union and plays a central role in

achieving the Commission’s political priorities. As domain leader on financial management, DG

BUDG has a growing strategic role at the heart of the Commission. Working in DG BUDG is not just

about figures, you get to see the bigger picture of what is happening across the whole Commission

and how the budget contributes to achieving the EU objectives.

Directorate BUDG.E – the Commission's Central Financial Service – is the lead service for legal

matters on the EU budget and its implementation, particularly the Financial Regulation, its

application and interpretation. It also promotes the active sharing of knowledge on financial,

operational and budgetary matters within DG BUDG and the Commission, as well as with EU

institutions, bodies and agencies.

Unit BUDG.E2 “Financial Rules: Direct Management, CFS Helpdesk, Training and RUF” has a team of

around 30 colleagues. We are responsible for several politically important and sensitive files. We

develop and advise on the financial rules for implementing the EU budget, with respect to directly

managed EU programmes (research, defence, space, transport, health, etc.), EU public procurement,

grants, prizes, association agreements with third countries, e-Governance (corporate digitalised

contracts and procedures), Brexit legal matters, and related budgetary issues. The Unit participates

in the drafting, negotiation and interpretation of the EU Financial Regulation and of other financial

rules that apply across sectors and institutions, in particular the sectoral programme regulations

under the Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFF). In addition, the Unit hosts the Central Financial

Service Helpdesk, training activities and the Finance Community Network (RUF). The Unit is

intensively involved in the preparation of the post-2027 MFF.

WE OFFER

An exciting and diverse position as a legal officer in the area of EU budget implementation, one of

the Commission's core responsibilities. You will join a great team of highly motivated and friendly

colleagues, and you will be part of the Internal Policies sector. Work will consist of providing legal

advice and guidance to the entire EU finance community (Commission and other EU institutions and (Reference: Call for interest EC-2026-BUDG-464677)

bodies), in particular but not limited to EU internal policies implemented in direct management,

including defence and the Ukraine support loan. You will draft legal documents such as legislative

proposals, contractual templates and guidance notes. You will deliver training and promote

knowledge sharing. You will work in close contact with the other lawyers of the unit and directorate,

the hierarchy, other BUDG units as well as with other services, including the Legal Service.

advice and guidance to the entire EU finance community (Commission and other EU institutions and

- An extensive set of tools to drive your career, including a broad learning and development offer

for job specific and soft skills

- Mentoring and on-the-job coaching upon joining DG BUDG

- A friendly and collegial atmosphere where teamwork and flexibility are key to the success of

DG

WE LOOK FOR

A highly motivated and proactive colleague, who is a team player and can demonstrate a strong

interest in and ability to contribute to the Unit’s mission. The ideal candidate would have:

- Legal background and/or experience with drafting legal documents such as contracts

- The ability to translate complex ideas into clear and concise language

- Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing

- A good understanding of the legal, financial and operational issues related to the

implementation of the EU budget

- Knowledge of and/or experience with the management of rules and procedures for

implementing the EU budget, in particular directly managed programmes using eGrants

- Knowledge of the Financial Regulation applicable to the EU budget

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

With a view to guaranteeing equal access to all, the Commission recruits from an open database of spontaneous applications. The present call for interests aims at helping the recruiters to identify potentially interested candidates within this database. (Reference: Call for interest EC-2026-BUDG-464677)

In practice, to express your interest, please follow the subsequent two steps:

1. If you are not registered yet in the open EPSO database, please do so at the following address: CAST Permanent . Please select under selection procedures for contract agent the

CAST permanent profile that best suits your education and experience.

2. You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order: 1. your CV 2. completed application form. Please send these documents by the publication deadline to BUDG-MAILBOX-

[email protected] indicating the call for interest reference EC-2026-BUDG-464677 in

the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. (Reference: Call for interest EC-2026-BUDG-464677)

ANNEX

1. Selection

 Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the following eligibility criteria when you validate your application :

Our rules provide that you can only be recruited as a contract agent at the European Commission if you:

General criteria:

- Are a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen;

- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service;

- Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the position;

- Produce the appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties.

- Have passed an EPSO CAST in the relevant Function Group for this position. At the stage of the application, it is sufficient to be registered in the EPSO CAST data base.

Qualifications:

(a) Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma.

Only qualifications issued or recognised as equivalent by EU Member State authorities (e.g. by the Ministry of Education) will be accepted.

Languages:

- have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1) of one of the 24 official languages of the EU 2

- AND have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) 3 of a second official language of the EU, to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

 What about the selection steps?

The selecting unit chooses from the EPSO database 4 candidates with the appropriate profile and

invites them to an interview. For the interview a selection panel is set-up to assess the best

2 The official languages of the European Union are: BG (Bulgarian), CS (Czech), DA (Danish), DE (German), EL (Greek), EN (English), ES (Spanish), ET (Estonian), FI (Finnish), FR (French), GA (Irish), HR (Croatian), HU (Hungarian), IT (Italian), LT (Lithuanian), LV (Latvian), MT (Maltese), NL (Dutch), PL (Polish), PT (Portuguese), RO (Romanian), SK (Slovak), SL (Slovenian), SV (Swedish). 3For details on language levels, please see the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-language-levels-cefr).

(Reference: Call for interest EC-2026-BUDG-464677)

candidates. Due to the large volume of applications that we may receive only candidates selected for the interview will be notified.

For operational reasons and in order to complete the selection procedure as quickly as possible in the interest of the candidates and of the institution, the selection procedure will be carried out in English and possibly in a second official language.

4Therefore, candidates who did not pass already a CAST on the level Function Group [IV], should register their profile at this address: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/Cast-Permanent

2. Recruitment

The candidate selected for recruitment will be requested to provide documentary evidence in support of the statements made in the database and, where relevant, the call for interest.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a mandatory pre-recruitment medical check-up carried out by the Commission.

 Type of contract and working conditions

The place of employment will be in Brussels.

The successful candidate will be engaged as a contract agent under Article 3(b) of the

Conditions of Employment of Other Servants , in function group FG IV. General information on

Contract Agents can be found at this link .

The grade or proposed grade range, as well as the step in that grade, will be defined on the basis of the candidates’ previous professional experience, in accordance with Commission Decision

C(2017)6760 laying down the criteria applicable to classification in step on engagement.

[For 3b] The duration of the first contract will be 1 year. Subject to the interest of the service, the contract may be renewed one or more times up to a maximum duration of 6 years.

The duration of the renewal(s) will be defined according to the General Implementing Rules in force at that moment (currently, Commission Decision C(2017)6760 on policies for the engagement and

use of contract agents).

Contract agents recruited in Function Group IV have to successfully complete a 9-month probationary period.

The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with specific allowances,

including, where applicable, expatriation and family allowances. The provisions guiding the

calculation of these allowances can be consulted in the Conditions of Employment of Other

Servants.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at FGIV runs from €4,449 (step 1) to €5,034 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €53,388 to €60,408 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €712 per month at step 1 of FGIV) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Brussels. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 9 September 2026, 6 days ago.

The application deadline is 22 September 2026, 6 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 15 September 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at FGIV see our FGIV grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at European Commission see the European Commission institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page; for related vacancies in the Budget And Finances field browse our Budget And Finances domain page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.