Internship•Belgium · Brussels

European Commission Blue Book Traineeship

Funding

Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Mar 1, 2027 – Jul 31, 2027

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.

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)

    Aug 28, 2026

  3. Traineeship begins

    Mar 1, 2027

  4. Traineeship ends

    Jul 31, 2027