EU traineeships and internships

Almost every EU institution and agency runs a paid traineeship. The Blue Book at the European Commission is the largest with ~1,200 places per intake; the Council, Parliament, ECB, EIB, Court of Justice, EEAS, Court of Auditors and the decentralised agencies each run their own. This page is the canonical index. Compare programmes, see live vacancies, and read the per-programme guides.

Major EU traineeship programmes

Programme Host Location Duration Stipend Intakes
Blue Book Traineeship

The flagship EU traineeship. Two intakes per year, ~1,200 places. Mix of policy/administrative and translation streams.

 European Commission Brussels, Luxembourg, EU Delegations 5 months ~€1,420/month Twice a year (March, October)
Council Traineeship (Schuman)

For recent graduates and current students (paid). Plus an unpaid "compulsory traineeship" for current students whose curriculum requires it.

 Council of the EU Brussels 5 months ~€1,335/month Twice a year (February, September)
European Parliament Schuman Traineeship

General and journalism options. Open to EU citizens with a university degree, plus a limited number of non-EU places.

 European Parliament Brussels, Luxembourg, Liaison Offices 5 months ~€1,500/month Twice a year (March, October)
ECB Traineeship & Graduate Programme

Open to economics, finance, law, statistics, IT and HR backgrounds. Also runs a dedicated Graduate Programme for analytical and research tracks.

 European Central Bank Frankfurt 3 to 12 months ~€1,170/month Continuous
EIB Internships and Graduate Programme

The EU's public bank. Internships in lending, risk, treasury, equity, sustainability, economics; structured Graduate Recruitment Programme for early-career professionals.

 European Investment Bank Luxembourg 1 to 5 months (internships); 2 years (graduates) Paid (varies) Continuous
Court of Justice Traineeships

Law graduates. Placements with judges' chambers, the Registry, Press and Information, and Directorates.

 Court of Justice of the EU Luxembourg 5 months ~€1,470/month Twice a year (March, October)
Europol Traineeship

Law enforcement support, data analysis, cybercrime, financial crime, comms. EU citizenship required + security clearance.

 Europol The Hague 3 to 12 months ~€840/month Continuous
EEAS Traineeship

Two tracks: HQ in Brussels, and "Junior Professionals in Delegation" abroad.

 European External Action Service Brussels and EU Delegations worldwide 6 months Paid (location-dependent) Twice a year
Court of Auditors Traineeships

Audit, financial management, public-sector control. Open to candidates with degrees relevant to the Court's activity.

 European Court of Auditors Luxembourg 3, 4 or 5 months ~€1,500/month Three intakes per year
CEDEFOP Traineeship

Vocational education and training research. Open to EU/EEA citizens with a relevant university degree.

 CEDEFOP Thessaloniki 9 months Paid Once a year (autumn)

Live traineeship vacancies by institution

Latest live traineeship openings

Showing the 17 most recently posted traineeship openings.

How EU traineeships work

Every programme is different in detail, but the shape is consistent:

Frequently asked questions

How many EU traineeships are there?

Almost every EU institution, agency and joint undertaking runs a traineeship programme. The Blue Book (European Commission) is the largest with ~1,200 places per intake. The Council, Parliament, ECB, EIB, Court of Justice, EEAS, Court of Auditors and the decentralised agencies each run their own. EU Jobs Alert currently lists 17 live traineeship vacancies across these programmes.

Are EU traineeships paid?

The major programmes (Blue Book, Schuman, ECB, EIB, Court of Justice, EEAS, Court of Auditors) are all paid. Stipends range from about €840/month (Europol) to ~€1,500/month (Parliament Schuman, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors). The Council also offers an unpaid "compulsory traineeship" for students whose university curriculum requires it. Agencies vary. Many pay, some don't.

Do I need to be an EU citizen for an EU traineeship?

For most programmes, yes. The Blue Book, Schuman (Council and Parliament), Court of Justice and Court of Auditors are restricted to EU citizens. ECB and EIB are open to citizens of EU and candidate countries. Some research agencies and specialised programmes accept non-EU candidates; check each programme's individual eligibility notice.

How long do EU traineeships last?

Five months is the most common duration (Blue Book, Schuman, Court of Justice). ECB, EIB and Europol traineeships are more flexible (3 to 12 months). CEDEFOP runs a 9-month programme. The EIB Graduate Recruitment Programme is a 2-year structured early-career track.

When are the next application deadlines?

Blue Book opens in January (for October start) and August (for March start). Council and Parliament Schuman follow a similar twice-yearly cycle. ECB, EIB and Europol accept applications on a continuous basis. Check the live vacancies below for current openings, or subscribe to our RSS for new postings.

Can a traineeship lead to a permanent EU job?

Indirectly, yes. Trainees who pass the EU staff regulations medical, who network well and who excel are well-placed to apply for entry-level Temporary Agent or Contract Agent roles. Some agencies hire former trainees into junior CAST positions. The Blue Book is widely viewed as the most reliable "audition" for a Commission career.

See also

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