Internships – Blue Book Traineeship programme

Twice a year, the European Commission organises a five-month professional development programme for university graduates.

This five-month paid training programme offers graduates:

• Practical experience in EU policy-making and administration.
• Professional skills for a global career
• Intercultural awareness and personal development

Trainees work in a multicultural environment, develop professional skills and gain an in-depth insight into the workings of the European Commission and its executive agencies, decentralised agencies or other bodies, as well as the European External Action Service.

This does not exclude those who, as part of lifelong learning, have recently obtained a university degree and are at the start of a new professional career. 

Training periods start on 1 March and 1 October each year.

Requirements:

The traineeship programme is open to all EU citizens, regardless of age (a limited number of places are also allocated to non-EU citizens), who:

• Have completed a standard 3-year higher education degree (minimum EQF level 6), corresponding to a full bachelor’s degree, or equivalent.
• Have no previous work experience of any kind, exceeding 6 weeks, in any EU institution, body or agency, delegation, with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) or Advocates General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
• Have a very good knowledge of two official EU languages, one of which must be a working language: English, French or German at C1 or C2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and a second language at a minimum of B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• For non-EU citizens, only one working language at C1 or C2 level is required.

Benefits:

• Trainees receive a grant of approximately €1,538.16 per month and reimbursement of travel expenses. They are also provided with accident and health insurance. Trainees with a disability may receive a supplement to their grant.

How to apply

• Register with the European Commission’s Authentication Service to start your application.
• Fill in the application form.

Deadline: 7 April 2026, 10:00 CET (internship period: October 2026).

More information: Eurodesk.