Internships – Council of the European Union – Brussels

If you wish to gain professional experience at the heart of the European Union, the paid work placements offered by the Council of the European Union (Consilium) in Brussels will give you a first-hand insight into how its institutions operate and enable you to develop your skills in areas such as policy-making, law, communications, administration and information technology.

The Consilium internship programme enables university graduates from a range of disciplines to gain first-hand insight into the work of one of the EU’s main institutions, take part in its day-to-day activities and gain experience in European policy-making and legislation.

The call for applications currently open is for the internship period running from 1 February to 30 June 2027.

Benefits:

• €1,538.16 net per month;
• A five-month internship;
• Work in Brussels, at the heart of the European institutions;
• A travel allowance to help cover travel costs from your place of residence;
• For those recruited from a location more than 50 km from Brussels, a contribution towards travel expenses at the start and end of the placement;
• Two days’ annual leave for every month worked, in addition to public holidays and days when the Council’s offices are closed;
• Accident insurance cover throughout the duration of the placement;
• Gain practical experience of how the EU works and how its policies are shaped;
• Participate in the day-to-day activities of the Council of the European Union;
• Contribute to work relating to decisions and policies of importance to the European Union;
• Develop professional knowledge and skills in an international environment.

Your role:

As an intern, you will have the opportunity to join different departments and teams within the Council, depending on your background and professional profile.

Policy development:

• contribute to work relating to the development and coordination of European Union policies;
• gain first-hand experience of the processes involved in preparing and negotiating European policies;
• take part in the day-to-day activities of the teams supporting the Council’s work;
• gain experience of how decisions are prepared at European level.

Law:

• work on issues relating to European Union law;
• familiarise yourself with the procedures and legal framework of the European institutions;
• contribute to legal tasks within the Council’s departments;
• gain practical experience in an international legal environment.

Administration:

• take part in the Council’s administrative and management activities;
• work alongside the institution’s various departments and teams;
• gain experience of the internal workings of a European institution.

Communication:

• contribute to activities relating to the EU’s institutional communication;
• work on disseminating information on the Council’s activities and decisions;
• develop communication skills within an international and multicultural environment.

Translation:

• work in a multilingual professional environment;
• take part in tasks relating to the institution’s translation and language services;
• gain experience in the European Union’s institutional communication.

Information technology:

• assist with projects and activities relating to information technology;
• gain experience in the technological environment of a European institution;
• work with professionals specialising in different areas of IT.

Qualifications, experience and skills:

Essential:

• European Union citizenship;
• a university degree or higher qualification;
• the qualification must have been obtained no later than the deadline for submitting applications;
• a very good command of English or French;
• knowledge of at least one other official EU language;
• youmust not have previously worked in another European Union institution.

Desirable:

The programme is aimed at graduates from a range of disciplines, so the desired academic profile will depend on the field of the work placement for which the application is being made.

It will be particularly important to have:

• knowledge relevant to the chosen professional field;
• an interest in the workings of the European Union;
• the ability to work in an international and multicultural environment;
• the ability to learn and adapt;
• good communication and teamwork skills.

Other opportunities:

In addition to the general programme, the Council offers an affirmative action programme under which it reserves up to six traineeship posts each year for EU nationals with a recognised disability, providing any special adjustments that may be required in the workplace.

There is also a specific programme for students at national schools of public administration, offering placements lasting between two and five months, designed to familiarise them with the processes and policies of the European institutions.

Duration and timetable:

Consilium work placements are offered twice a year and last for five months.

For the call for applications currently open:

• Internship period: 1 February to 30 June 2027.
• Location: Brussels, Belgium.
• Remuneration: €1,538.16 net per month.

 

Deadline: 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 AT 12:00 (BRUSSELS TIME).

 

More information: European Council