Funding

Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Mar 1, 2027 – Jul 31, 2027

Internship•Belgium · Brussels

European Commission Blue Book Traineeship

European Commission

Application Deadline

Closed · September 4, 2026

Expected to reopen

Official Page

The Blue Book Traineeship is the European Commission’s flagship paid traineeship, run by its Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security. Twice a year it places about 1,000 university graduates for five months inside Commission departments, executive and decentralised agencies, and the European External Action Service — mostly in Brussels, with some roles in Luxembourg.

Trainees gain hands-on experience of EU policymaking and administration alongside staff from across Europe. It is open to graduates of any discipline, and a limited number of non-EU nationals are accepted each session.

Benefits & funding

  • Monthly living allowance of €1,538.16, paid at the end of each month (first payment after four effective weeks).
  • Five-month placement (1 March – 31 July, or 1 October – 28 February).
  • Two days of paid leave per month; public holidays do not reduce the balance.
  • Compulsory health insurance for the full traineeship (Commission-provided, or keep existing national cover with proof such as an EHIC).
  • Work across Commission services and EU agencies in a multicultural, 40-hour week.
  • Note: travel costs and accommodation are not covered, and third-party liability insurance is not included.

Eligibility

  • Open to nationals of EU member states and candidate countries; a limited number of non-EU nationals are also accepted in specific Directorates-General (no guaranteed quota).
  • A completed three-year university degree (EQF Level 6, at least 180 ECTS) obtained before the application deadline.
  • At least 18 years old on the traineeship start date.
  • Languages — EU nationals: a first language of English, French or German at C1/C2 (or mother tongue) plus a second EU language at B2; non-EU nationals: one Commission working language (English, French or German) at C1/C2 (or mother tongue).
  • Candidates with more than six weeks (42 days) of prior or ongoing professional experience in any EU institution, body or agency are excluded.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Education required

    Bachelor

  • Age requirement

    ≥ 18 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    During the registration window, create an EU Login and submit one online application — for an administrative (ADMIN) or translation (DGT) traineeship — with all documents in a single PDF.
  2. 2
    Pass the pre-selection eligibility check to enter the Virtual Blue Book.
  3. 3
    Apply for up to three specific positions offered by Commission services; recruiting services may hold interviews (there are roughly three times more candidates than places).
  4. 4
    If selected, a formal offer appears in your account — selection is final only at that point — which you then accept or decline.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open for the March 2027 session (10:00 Brussels time)

    Jul 22, 2026

  2. Application deadline (10:00 Brussels time)

    Sep 4, 2026

  3. Traineeship begins

    Mar 1, 2027

  4. Traineeship ends

    Jul 31, 2027

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