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

ProgrammeHostLocationDurationStipendIntakes
Blue Book Traineeship

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

European CommissionBrussels, Luxembourg, EU Delegations5 months~€1,420/monthTwice 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 EUBrussels5 months~€1,335/monthTwice 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 ParliamentBrussels, Luxembourg, Liaison Offices5 months~€1,500/monthTwice 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 BankFrankfurt3 to 12 months~€1,170/monthContinuous
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 BankLuxembourg1 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 EULuxembourg5 months~€1,470/monthTwice a year (March, October)
Europol Traineeship

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

EuropolThe Hague3 to 12 months~€840/monthContinuous
EEAS Traineeship

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

European External Action ServiceBrussels and EU Delegations worldwide6 monthsPaid (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 AuditorsLuxembourg3, 4 or 5 months~€1,500/monthThree intakes per year
CEDEFOP Traineeship

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

CEDEFOPThessaloniki9 monthsPaidOnce a year (autumn)

Live traineeship vacancies by institution

Latest live traineeship openings

Showing the 18 most recently posted traineeship openings.

Browse all 21 traineeships with filters →

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 21 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

Remove ads and unlock all featuresGo Premium