The Blue Book Traineeship is one of the most sought after paid internship programmes in Europe. It gives graduates the chance to work at the heart of the European Union, gain real professional experience, and build a strong foundation for a future career in EU policymaking. I
f you are looking for a fully funded, prestigious opportunity in Brussels or another EU location, this is one you don’t want to miss.You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.
What Is the Blue Book Traineeship?
The Blue Book Traineeship is a five month paid traineeship offered by the European Commission. It is designed to reflect the diversity of Europe and to offer equal opportunities to candidates from all backgrounds.
Trainees work in a multicultural environment, develop professional skills, and gain first hand insight into how the European Commission operates. Placements are available across:
- The European Commission
- Executive agencies
- Decentralised agencies or bodies
- Commissioners’ Cabinets
- The European External Action Service (EEAS)
The programme runs twice a year, with approximately 1,000 traineeship positions available in each session.
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Requirements that apply to everyone:
- You must be 18 or older on the starting date of the traineeship.
- You need a valid passport or national identity card matching the nationality you declared.
- Declared work experience must last at least 15 calendar days, or the full time equivalent.
- Only professional experience gained from the age of 16 onwards can be declared. Student jobs, voluntary work, civic service and holiday jobs all count.
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What You Will Gain:
This traineeship gives participants real responsibilities and the chance to contribute to actual EU projects. Here is what participants gain:
- Hands on professional experience in an international environment
- Development of key skills such as communication, teamwork, and organisation
- The opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a real world setting
- Exposure to a multicultural and multilingual working environment
- Strengthened career prospects through internationally recognised experience
The nature of the work depends on the department or service you are assigned to.
Grant and Allowances
Trainees receive a monthly living allowance, adjusted according to their place of assignment through a correction coefficient. This coefficient accounts for differences in the cost of living between locations.
In addition to the monthly grant, trainees may also receive:
- A general travel allowance of €275, subject to budget availability
- A meal and public transport allowance, equal to 5% of the adjusted monthly grant, depending on place of assignment
- An accommodation allowance, equal to 20% of the adjusted monthly grant, depending on place of assignment
What you actually get paid:
The living allowance is a monthly grant adjusted by a correction coefficient, which reflects the cost of living where you are posted. Here are the indicative basic grants for the March 2027 session:
- Austria: € 1 680
- Belgium: € 1 572
- Bulgaria: € 1 047
- Croatia: € 1 273
- Cyprus: € 1 267
- Czech Republic: € 1 443
- Denmark: € 2 081
- Estonia: € 1 552
- Finland: € 1 759
- France: € 1 814
- Germany: € 1 638
- Greece: € 1 396
- Hungary: € 1 232
- Ireland: € 2 067
- Italy: € 1 390
- Latvia: € 1 366
- Lithuania: € 1 412
- Luxembourg: € 1 572
- Malta: € 1 487
- Netherlands: € 1 803
- Poland: € 1 314
- Portugal: € 1 470
- Romania: € 1 179
- Slovakia: € 1 376
- Slovenia: € 1 396
- Spain: € 1 471
- Sweden: € 1 894
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Where Will You Work?
- Trainees are based across the European Commission and its various services and agencies.
- Most positions are located in Brussels, though placements are also available in Luxembourg and other locations across the European Union.
The dates you need for the March 2027 session:
- Applications opened: 22 July 2026, 10:00 a.m. Brussels time
- Applications close: 4 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. Brussels time
- Preselection: September to October 2026
- Selection: November to December 2026
- Traineeship period: 1 March 2027 to 31 July 2027
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Which of the three traineeships fits you:
You must choose one strand, so choose the right one.
ADMIN UG: for university graduates
Hands on experience in managing office operations, supporting organisational functions and performing administrative tasks.
- Education: a completed higher education degree at EQF Level 6 or higher, worth at least 180 ECTS credits, covering a minimum of three academic years. Degrees earned outside the European Union are accepted if they match a completed three year higher education cycle.
- Language, EU nationals: English, French or German at C1 or C2 (or mother tongue), plus a second official EU language at B2 or above.
- Language, applicants from outside the EU: English, French or German at C1 or C2 at minimum, or as a mother tongue.
- Nationality: an EU member state, or a candidate country that benefits from a pre accession strategy.
ADMIN VET: for vocational education and training graduates
Practical, work based learning that lets you apply vocational skills in a professional environment linked to your field of training.
- Education: a completed VET qualification at EQF Level 3, 4 or 5, or the national equivalent. General education qualifications do not count. Qualifications from outside the EU are accepted if they match a completed VET cycle.
- Language, EU nationals: English, French or German at B2 minimum (or mother tongue), plus a second official EU language at A2 or above.
- Language, applicants from outside the EU: English, French or German at B2 at minimum, or as a mother tongue.
- Nationality: an EU member state, or a candidate country taking part in a pre accession strategy.
TRA: the translation traineeship
Translating documents into your own language from at least two other official EU languages, based in the Directorate General for Translation.
- Education: the same EQF Level 6, 180 ECTS, three academic year requirement as ADMIN UG.
- Target language: an official EU language, normally your mother tongue.
- First source language: English, French or German at C1 or C2, or as a mother tongue.
- Second source language: another official EU language at B2 or above.
- Nationality: applicants must be nationals of an EU member state.
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How To Apply:
- Visit the official Blue Book Traineeship application portal
- Create an account and complete your candidate profile
- Choose the traineeship strand that matches your background
- Fill in your education, language skills, and work experience details
- Upload the required supporting documents
- Submit your application before 4 September 2026, 10:00 a.m. Brussels time
- Keep checking your application account for updates on your status
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