Learn democracy from the inside
The Robert Schuman Traineeship lets you work in the European Parliament's Secretariat or directly with an elected Member of Parliament (MEP). Named after Robert Schuman — one of the founding fathers of European integration.
€1,889
Per month (Belgium/Luxembourg)
€1,948
Per month (Germany, approx.)
€300
Travel allowance
What is it?
Two routes into Parliament
The European Parliament offers two distinct traineeships under the Schuman programme: traineeship at the Secretariat and traineeship directly with individual MEPs. These are separate programmes with different rules, eligibility requirements and pay levels.
The monthly allowance for Secretariat traineeships varies by country. A flat-rate travel allowance of €300 is paid to each trainee.
A new programme — the Schuman Recruitment and Development Programme — also gives high-performing trainees the opportunity to continue as contract staff in Parliament.
Opportunities
Choose your path
Secretariat traineeship
5 months (Oct–Feb or Mar–Jul)
Traineeship in EU policy, finance, law, multilingualism, communications or IT. Apply in May (for October) or October (for March).
- ✓€1,889/month in Belgium/Luxembourg, ~€1,948/month in Germany
- ✓€300 travel allowance
- ✓University degree (EQF 6) or some vocational qualifications required
- ✓Max 2 months previous EU experience
MEP traineeship
6 weeks – 5 months
Work directly with an elected Member of the European Parliament. Applied for directly to MEPs — not via the application portal.
- ✓€1,133–€1,856/month (full-time)
- ✓Upper secondary education sufficient
- ✓Can start at any time of year
- ✓MEP defines the tasks
Financial support
What the EU covers
Monthly allowance
Varies by country. Germany: approx. €1,948/month. Base rate: €1,889/month.
Travel allowance
€300 flat-rate per trainee.
Disability supplement
Up to 50% extra of monthly allowance for long-term disability of 20%+.
Step by step
How it works
Choose the type of traineeship
Secretariat traineeship or MEP traineeship — they are separate programmes with different rules and application processes.
Check eligibility
At least 18 years old, university degree (EQF 6), EU citizenship or candidate country, max 2 months previous EU experience, clean criminal record.
Apply for up to 3 posts
Applications go through the European Parliament's application portal. Max 3 posts per application. No unsolicited applications.
Pre-selection process
Your application is assessed on academic profile, language skills and competences. National quotas apply.
Take up your placement
You receive an official letter of acceptance by e-mail. Traineeship periods start 1 October or 1 March.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions answered
Ready to apply?
europarl.europa.eu/traineeships
europarl.europa.eu (officiell Schuman-portal)
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