European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme 2026 (Deadline: 29 August, 2025)

Applications are open for the European Commission Blue Book Traineeship Programme 2026. The Blue Book Traineeship programme is a five-month paid internship offered by the European Commission, providing graduates from around the world with hands-on experience in EU policymaking and administration. Trainees work in a multicultural environment, develop professional skills, and gain insights into the operations of EU institutions.

The European Commission proposes two types of traineeship: an Administrative Traineeship or a Translation Traineeship with the Directorate-General for Translation (DGT). Trainees work all over the European Commission, its services and agencies, mostly in Brussels, but also in Luxembourg and elsewhere across the European Union.

Duties

• 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

Grant

• A €1,493.36 grant will be given to selected trainees.

Eligibility

The Blue Book 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.
• 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

Deadline: August 29, 2025

For more information, visit European Commission Blue Book Traineeship.