Paid traineeships for graduates who already have a first university degree.
Compulsory traineeships for third, fourth or fifth year students (and also for students working toward a doctorate) who are required to complete a traineeship as part of their studies.
Traineeship for students of national administration schools of Member States.
Are traineeships at the Council of the European Union paid? Most of the traineeships offered are paid. Paid trainees receive a traineeship grant of 1176,84 €/month, a restaurant reduction card and a contribution towards the travel expenses from the place of recruitment to Brussels.
Compulsory trainees and students of national administration schools do not receive a traineeship grant. Compulsory trainees receive the travel allowance and a restaurant reduction card.
What is expected of a trainee? As a trainee – depending on the needs of the service – your daily work would generally be equivalent to that of junior administrator officials at the beginning of their career e.g.: preparing meetings, drafting minutes, attending meetings of COREPER and Council preparatory bodies, translating documents, researching on a particular project, compiling documentation, writing reports etc. You will be placed under the responsibility of a traineeship adviser who will guide and supervise your work. You will also be invited to take part in a training programme which includes different conferences and visits to other EU institutions in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg.
between 16 August (12 noon, Brussels time) and 28 September 2018 (12 noon, Brussels time) for the first traineeship period (1 February - 30 June 2018),
between 1 February (12 noon, Brussels time) and 15 March 2019 (12 noon, Brussels time) for the second traineeship period (1 September 2019 - 31 January 2020)
For a compulsory traineeship there are also two application periods:
between 3 September (12 noon, Brussels time) and 15 October 2018 (12 noon, Brussels time) for the first traineeship period (1 February - 30 June 2019),
between 1 February (12 noon, Brussels time) and 15 March 2019 (12 noon, Brussels time)for the second traineeship period (1 September 2019 - 31 January 2020).
How many traineeship places are offered? Depending on the budget available there are around 50 paid traineeship places and 10-15 compulsory traineeship places offered in each traineeship period.
How many applications does the Council receive? This can vary, but generally there are 2500-5000 applications per period for paid traineeships.
For compulsory unpaid traineeships there are usually 75-100 applications in each traineeship period.
What is the difference between paid and compulsory traineeships? Paid traineeships are for candidates who already have a BA degree.
For a compulsory traineeship, candidates do not need a degree, but the traineeship has to be a compulsory part of their higher education studies (or required for a thesis or doctorate) as requested by the school. Compulsory traineeships are unpaid.
What is the duration of the different traineeships? Paid traineeships run for 5 months. Compulsory traineeships and traineeships for students of national administration schools shall be of minimum of 2 months and maximum 5 months and shall not be extended beyond five months.
What are the traineeship periods? There are two 5 months traineeship periods every year: first period from February until June and the second period from September until January.
Can I apply for both the paid and the compulsory traineeship? Yes. You can apply for both paid and compulsory traineeships if you fulfil both eligibility criteria (e.g. if you are a Master student who has already a BA degree and is required to do a traineeship as part of your Master studies).
I have a disability. How will my disability be taken into account? We encourage persons with a disability to apply for a traineeship by a positive reference to the equal opportunities policy in place. Recruitment and selection procedures are adapted to ensure that they do not disadvantage candidates with a disability. Candidates with a disability who need any form of measures which would constitute reasonable accommodation should tick the relevant field in the application form.
What are my chances of being recruited after the traineeship? The traineeship itself does not confer the status of official or other employee of the Union, nor does it give any entitlement to recruitment with the Institutions of the European Union. To be recruited as an official you have to pass an EPSO competition. Occasionally there are vacancy opportunities for temporary assignments and in those cases there is a possibility of contracts as temporary or contract agents. In order to be considered for these vacancies, potential candidates should be registered in an EPSO CAST database or in the Commission EU CV Online database.
I am UK national. Can I still apply? It is at the time of selection that candidates have to meet the eligibility requirements, including nationality. Therefore, for the first 2019 traineeship period, February to June, United Kingdom nationals remain eligible and can apply for traineeships at the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.
I have not yet received my Bachelor degree. Can I apply for a paid traineeship? Applicants should have completed all academic requirements to earn Bachelor degree at the closing date of on-line application at the latest (proof needs to be provided if selected) and should be in possession of the diploma at the signature of the traineeship agreement at the latest.
Should I also list qualifications from elementary and high school in Education? You should only list qualifications relevant to the traineeship and domains selected. Generally, elementary/high school qualifications are not considered relevant, unless it is the only way you can prove your knowledge of certain languages.
What is exactly meant by a "substantiated declaration of knowledge of the languages"? Is there a template to be used? You need to prove all language skills that you mention in your application form. If you do not have a specific document (diploma from language studies, copy of evaluation reports including the language or other proof) you will need to write and sign a short declaration explaining that you know the language having done a course, being your second mother-tongue, or whatever other explanation justifying the lack of supporting documents.
between 3 September, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) and 15 October 2018, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) for the first traineeship period (1 February - 30 June 2019),
between 1 February, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) and 15 March 2019, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) for the second traineeship period (1 September 2018 - 31 January 2019)
between 3 September, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) and 15 October 2018, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) for the first traineeship period (1 February - 30 June 2019),
between 1 February, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) and 15 March 2019, 12.00 noon (Brussels time) for the second traineeship period (1 September 2018 - 31 January 2019)
Do I need to send supporting documents when applying for a compulsory traineeship? No, only the completed application form and an official letter from you school stating that the traineeship is compulsory part of your studies need to be sent before the application deadline. Supporting documents (proofs) for all information in your application form (i.e. education, professional experience, language knowledge) need to be sent if you are selected and contacted by the Traineeships Office (see details on website).
When will the selection procedure take place for paid traineeships? Validated online applications will be examined as of October for the first traineeship period and as of end March for the second traineeship period. First period selected candidates will be contacted in December at the latest, second period selected candidates will be contacted in May at the latest. Successful applicants will receive an offer by e-mail stating the period of their traineeship and the department to which they will be assigned. Once the offer has been accepted, the Traineeships Office will send the traineeship agreement. Please check your SPAM folder regularly, since it has been noted that our e-mails are often considered as SPAM.
How are trainees selected? Trainees are selected based on merit taking into consideration the information provided in the application form. Candidates might be interviewed on the phone or via video conference; in this case the Traineeships Office will contact candidates beforehand to arrange a suitable time.
In case of equal merit of candidates, the Traineeships Office endeavours to secure a healthy geographic (i.e. as many nationalities represented as possible) and gender balance (aiming for 40% of the underrepresented gender) of selected trainees.
Applications are scrutinised and compared against the profile sought by the different departments of the General Secretariat of the Council.
When should I provide supporting documents? Selected candidates will receive a traineeship offer by e-mail. At this stage you will be requested to send supporting documents by e-mail.
Is my application automatically valid for the next traineeship period/ year? Your application is only valid for one traineeship period (e.g. if you apply during 16 August - 28 September 2018, your application is valid for the first traineeship period, February - June 2019). If you are not selected you have to apply again for the next traineeship period (e.g. for a traineeship in the second period, September 2019 - January 2020 you will need to apply again, during 1 February - 15 March 2019).
Is there a national quota applied during the selection procedure? No. Trainees are selected on basis of merit. In case of equal merit the Traineeships Office endeavours to secure a healthy geographic (i.e. as many nationalities represented as possible) and gender balance (aiming for 40% of the underrepresented gender) of selected trainees.
My application was placed on a waiting list. What are my chances of being selected? If the selected candidate accepts our offer, there is very little chance that you will be offered a traineeship. If, on the contrary, a selected candidate does not go through with the traineeship, the candidates on the waiting list will be contacted, by order of merit. This could happen anytime, even at the last minute, just before the beginning of the traineeship.
I would like to know more about the tasks involved in my traineeship. During the selection procedure candidates may be phone interviewed. You should clarify the tasks at this stage. A list of tasks will also be sent as part of the traineeship offer. If you need more information please contact the Traineeships Office (traineeships@consilium.europa.eu).
Upon arrival, traineeship advisers complete an individual work programme together with the trainee. This document lists tasks and expected results.
Will I receive a traineeship agreement? Yes. Each selected trainee signs a traineeship agreement which will be sent by e-mail. No other agreement with a third party (e.g. with you university) will be signed.
Should I provide translations of supporting documents? No. Supporting documents are accepted in all official languages of the EU. It is helpful to provide also the English or French version of diplomas, if available.
Do I have to send copies of certificates concerning my language skills? You need to prove all language skills that you mention in your application form. If you do not have a specific document (diploma from language studies, copy of evaluation reports including the language or other proof) you will need to write and sign a short declaration explaining that you know the language having done a course, being your second mother-tongue, or whatever other explanation, justifying the lack of supporting documents.
Does the Council provide training during the traineeship? Yes. Depending on the budget available, the Traineeships Office organises a series of conferences on different topics and visits to other EU institutions. A study trip to Strasbourg (plenary session of the European Parliament, Council of Europe, Court of Human Rights) and Luxembourg (European Court of Justice, European Investment Bank and European Court of Auditors) is also offered.
Can I interrupt my traineeship? In exceptional cases and on a substantiated request by the trainee, the traineeship can be interrupted.
Does the Council provide a place to stay? No. Trainees are responsible for finding and paying for their accommodation during the traineeship. The Traineeship Office provides a list with rooms/flats available for trainees.
Who can help with administrative questions in respect to living in Brussels? The Expat Welcome Desk of the Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations: http://www.commissioner.brussels/, info@commisioner.brussels,
+32 (0) 2430 66 14.
This Welcome Desk will help you, free of charge, with any practical or legal problem that may arise during your stay such as registration with your municipality, questions about lease contracts or any other matter regarding settling down in Brussels.
Who can help with the rental agreement I have to sign? The Expat Welcome Desk of the Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations: http://www.commissioner.brussels/, info@commisioner.brussels,
+32 (0) 2430 66 14.
This Welcome Desk will help you, free of charge, with any practical or legal problem that may arise during your stay such as registration with your municipality, questions about lease contracts or any other matter regarding settling down in Brussels.
What are the working hours of the Council? Normal working hours are between 8h30 and 17h30 with a 1-hour lunch break (40-hours week). The exact working hours will be decided with your traineeship adviser, based on the interests of the service.
Am I entitled to annual leave? You are entitled to 2 days leave per worked month, in addition to public holidays and days when Council offices are closed.
Is there a dress code at the Council? No, there is no formal dress code. Trainees are asked to dress "smart casual" and more formal if they are supposed to attend a meeting. Trainees are expected to dress appropriately to their functions and tasks (very short skirts and shorts are not considered appropriate).
What should I do if I fall ill during my traineeship? You should immediately inform your traineeship adviser and the Traineeships Office. As from the fourth day of absence, a medical certificate is required indicating how long you will be absent.
Will I have to travel on mission during my traineeship? It is not a common practice. Occasionally some trainees may be requested to go to Luxembourg or Strasbourg with their service. The Traineeships Office organises study trips to Strasbourg and Luxembourg.
Do trainees pay taxes on the grant? No taxes are deducted from your grant. At the end of the traineeship you will be given a tax certificate with the total amount received during the traineeship and it is up to you to declare it in your home country.
Are trainees insured? All trainees are insured against accidents.
Health insurance is mandatory. In the absence of another coverage (e.g. European Health Insurance Card), trainees can opt for health insurance through the Council. In this case, paid trainees pay circa 13 €/month, which corresponds to one third of the premium, and the Council pays the remaining two thirds. For compulsory trainees the Council bears the entire insurance premium.
How much does the health insurance provided by the Council cost? Circa 13 €/month (one third of the monthly premium of the insurance) will be deducted from the traineeship grant of paid trainees. For compulsory trainees the Council bears the entire insurance premium.
Are trainees entitled to allowances ? Trainees are only entitled to a travel allowance, which is a contribution towards the return travel expenses between the home address of the trainee and Brussels. In order to be entitled trainees need to complete at least half of their traineeship period.
How is the travel allowance calculated? Trainees who are recruited from a place further away than 50 km from Brussels, are entitled to a contribution towards travel expenses at the beginning and at the end of the traineeship. The allowance is calculated with a method based on geographic distance between Brussels and the address indicated in the application form (0-500 km: 0,30€/km, 501-1500 km: 0,20€/km, over 1500 km: 0,10 €/km and multiplied by 2, with a ceiling of 800 €. No allowance for distances under 50 km of Brussels). You must complete at least half of the period of your traineeship in order to be entitled. No requests for change of address will be accepted after the signature of the traineeship agreement by the Council.
When is the travel allowance paid? The travel allowance is usually paid during May in the first traineeship period and during December in the second traineeship period.
Do I need to have a bank account in Belgium? No, you can use a bank account in another country, provided it is in your name and that it accepts transfers in euros. You will have to bear any costs which may arise from transfers.
Can the traineeship be considered as an employment? Will I be exempt from social security payments in my country? A traineeship is not considered as an employment. As for social security payments, each country has its laws, so you should find out how to proceed in your country. Nothing is deducted from your grant (neither social security, nor taxes). At the end of the traineeship you receive a tax declaration with the total amount received during the traineeship and it is up to you to declare it in your home country.
