The European Union Blue Book Traineeships Program 2025, also known as the EU Traineeships Program, is an opportunity for young professionals to gain hands-on experience in the workings of the European Union. Applications are now open for this opportunity. Click here to learn more about it and apply.
About European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme
The European Commission proposes 2 types of traineeship: an Administrative Traineeship or a Translation Traineeship with the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT).
The traineeship programme is open to all eligible candidates whatever their citizenship, regardless of their sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, membership of a national minority, disability, age or sexual orientation.
You can find more about equal opportunities on this page.
Trainees work all over the European Commission, its services and agencies, mostly in Brussels, but also in Luxembourg and elsewhere across the European Union.
Subsequent career opportunities may vary between these different entities.
The nature of your work will depend on the service you are assigned to.
You may, for example, work in the field of competition law, human resources, environmental policy, translation, etc.
What does a trainee's daily work consist of?
- Attending and organising meetings, working groups, and public hearings
- Researching, drafting and editing documentation – including reports and consultations
- Answering citizens’ inquiries
- Supporting the management of projects
- Translating, revising translations or researching terminology
What do they expect from you?
- An open-minded approach to European issues
- An interest in learning about the Commission’s working methods
- Willingness to work in a multicultural environment
- To contribute to the Commission’s daily work from a fresh perspective
- A proactive attitude
Scientific traineeships are also available at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).
Benefits of European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme
European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme Requirements
The traineeship programme is open to university graduates who:
- 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.
You will have to provide the following documents:
- 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 (C level or mother tongue)
- your second source language can be any of the official EU languages with at least B2-level proficiency
Application Date and Process
If you are a new user, register on European Commission Authentication Service (EU Login) to begin your application.
EU Login
- click here to create an account
- fill in the sign-up form
- click 'submit'
- check your email account (including your spam folder) for confirmation
- in the email, follow the link to 'create your password'
- choose your password and submit it
- click 'proceed' to the application form
- use either the email or your EU Login username to login afterwards.
Candidates for EC traineeships cannot login using electronic IDs.
Issues? Check 'Help for external users'.
For all questions regarding your registration with EU Login (European Commission's authentication service) see the EU Login FAQ page or contact [email protected].
Application Deadline
30 August, 2024
Scholarship Application Portal
View details of
European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme
Apply for European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme
