Work at the heart of the EU
The Blue Book gives graduates a paid 5-month traineeship at the European Commission. Work in a multicultural environment and gain insight into how EU policy is shaped — from the inside.
€1,538
Per month
~1,000
Places per session
2×
Sessions per year
What is it?
The EU's most sought-after traineeship
Twice a year the European Commission offers around 1,000 paid traineeship places for 5 months. Trainees are placed in Commission departments and executive agencies in Brussels, Luxembourg and elsewhere in the EU — including EEAS, FRONTEX, EEA and many more.
The traineeship comes in two forms: administrative traineeship (ADMIN) for most applicants, and translation traineeship (DGT) at the Directorate-General for Translation. There are approximately three times more candidates than available places.
Opportunities
Choose your path
Administrative traineeship (ADMIN)
5 months
Hands-on experience of EU policy work and administration. Placements across the Commission and its agencies.
- ✓€1,538.16/month
- ✓Requires university degree (EQF 6)
- ✓C1/C2 in EN, FR or DE + B2 in another EU language
- ✓Max 6 weeks previous EU experience
Translation traineeship (DGT)
5 months
Hands-on experience translating documents into your mother tongue. Open to EU citizens only.
- ✓€1,538.16/month
- ✓Mother tongue must be an official EU language
- ✓Source language 1: EN, FR or DE (C1+)
- ✓Source language 2: any EU language (B2+)
Financial support
What the EU covers
Monthly allowance
€1,538.16 per month throughout the traineeship.
International environment
Work alongside colleagues from across Europe and the world.
Certificate
Official traineeship certificate from the European Commission.
Step by step
How it works
Check eligibility
You must have a completed 3-year university degree (EQF 6), the right language skills and no more than 6 weeks of previous EU experience.
Apply online
Applications open twice a year: February (for October session) and July–Aug (for March session). Upload all documents in one PDF file.
Pre-selection process
A board verifies the documents. Pre-selected candidates are placed in the "Virtual Blue Book" and can apply to up to 3 posts.
Interview and offer
Recruiting departments may contact candidates and hold interviews. Selection is final when the offer appears in your account.
Take up your placement
Sessions start in October and March respectively. If you decline an offer, no further offers will be made.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions answered
Ready to apply?
traineeships.ec.europa.eu
traineeships.ec.europa.eu (officiell Blue Book-portal)
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