European Commission Blue Book Traineeship is much more than just a professional experience. Each batch of trainees organizes a huge range of non-formal learning, and social activities, from football to wine-tasting and much in between – in true bureaucratic fashion, each with its own organizing committee. There are usually 40-50 such activities to choose from.
The European Commission proposes 2 types of traineeship: an Administrative Traineeship or a Translation Traineeship with the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT).
The traineeship program is open to all eligible candidates whatever their citizenship, regardless of their sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, membership of a national minority, disability, age, or sexual orientation. Trainees work all over the European Commission, its services, and agencies, mostly in Brussels, but also in Luxembourg and elsewhere across the European Union.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the European Commission Blue Book Traineeship, applicants must:
- have completed a standard 3-year higher education degree (minimum EQF 6 level), corresponding to a complete Bachelor’s cycle, or equivalent. Only if you have a certificate or official confirmation from your university that you have such a degree will you be eligible to apply
- have no prior work experience of any kind, in excess of 6 weeks in any EU institution, body or agency, delegation, with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), or Advocates General at the Court of Justice of the European Union (EUCJ)
- have a very good knowledge of languages:
- For the administrative traineeship – you must have a very good knowledge of two EU official languages, one of which must be a working language: English, French or German at C1 or C2 level as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and a second one at B2 level at least as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
For non-EU nationals, only one procedural language is required at C1 or C2 level. - For the translation traineeship in the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT) – you must be able to translate into your main/target language (normally your mother tongue), from two other official EU languages (‘source languages’*).:
- your main/target language must be one of the official EU languages
- your first source language for translation must be a working language of the EU: English, French or German
- your second source language can be any of the official EU languages with at least B2-level proficiency
- For the administrative traineeship – you must have a very good knowledge of two EU official languages, one of which must be a working language: English, French or German at C1 or C2 level as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and a second one at B2 level at least as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Benefits
- The living allowance for the traineeship sessions is about €1.376,89 per month.
- Visa costs and related medical fees may be reimbursed together with the travel expenditures.
Required Documents
To apply for the European Commission Blue Book Traineeship program, the following documents must be submitted online:
- The certificate/s with the final grade/s clearly mentioned;
- The Europass Diploma Supplement, if available;
- University transcripts.
How to Apply
The application procedure consists of three steps:
- Create an EU Login account or log in with an existing one
- Complete and submit the application form along with your supporting documents
- If successful, you will be invited to check the openings published on the VBB portal and apply for a chosen traineeship post.
Deadline: March 15, 2024
