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🇧🇪 Paid Traineeship at an EU Institution 🏛️ Consilium Traineeship — Council of the European Union, Brussels 🇧🇪

🇧🇪 Paid Traineeship at an EU Institution 🏛️ Consilium Traineeship — Council of the European Union, Brussels 🇧🇪
🇧🇪 Paid Traineeship at an EU Institution 🏛️ Consilium Traineeship — Council of the European Union, Brussels 🇧🇪
Have you ever wanted to work at the very heart of EU decision-making? The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union offers paid 5-month traineeships in Brussels twice a year — covering a wide range of areas from EU policy and law to communication, HR, IT, and translation. Around 110 positions are available each year, with a monthly grant of €1,538.16 net plus allowances. The next traineeship term runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 January 2027, and the application deadline is 19 March 2026 at 12:00 CET. A dedicated Positive Action Programme is also available for EU nationals with a recognised disability, with an additional allowance of up to 50% on top of the standard grant.
🏛️ Did You Know? The name “Consilium” comes from the Latin word for counsel or deliberation — reflecting the Council’s dual role as both a decision-making body on EU legislative matters and the body that coordinates the positions of EU member state governments. The General Secretariat supports the work of the Council’s rotating Presidency and all its preparatory bodies, making it one of the most operationally central institutions in the EU system.

What Will You Do as a Trainee?

📋Prepare meetings, draft minutes, and attend meetings of Council preparatory bodies — depending on your assigned policy area
🔬Carry out research for specific projects, collect and analyse data, and contribute to the production of documents, notes, and publications
📣Help organise events and communication activities — or contribute to translation work if placed in the language services
🌍Assist during EU and international summits — one of the most unique and high-profile experiences available to any EU institutional trainee
🏛️Participate in visits to and conferences at other EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg — plus Council and Parliament simulation exercises
🤝Volunteer for projects in other units outside your assigned team — broadening your exposure across the General Secretariat

Traineeship Tracks & Programmes

🏛️ Standard Consilium Traineeship

Open to EU citizens with at least a bachelor’s degree. Covers a wide range of areas including EU policy, legal service, communication, HR, IT, and translation. Applicants select two preferred domains in the application form. Around 110 positions available annually across two traineeship periods per year.

Monthly grant: €1,538.16 net + €70 restaurant allowance + travel allowance + 2 days leave per month.

Deadline: 19 March 2026, 12:00 CET

♿ Positive Action Programme — Trainees with Disabilities

Up to 6 dedicated traineeships reserved each year for EU nationals with a recognised disability. Applicants must be at least a third-year university student and must provide documentation of their recognised disability. Special workplace arrangements are provided as necessary.

Monthly grant: €1,538.16 net + up to 50% disability allowance on top.

Deadline: 19 March 2026, 12:00 CET

🎓 Traineeships for Students of National Administration Schools

Available to students of national administration schools from EU member states or candidate countries that have signed the accession treaty. Duration of 2 to 5 months, offered across two periods per year. Applications must be submitted by the candidate’s national administration school — not directly by the student.

Contact: traineeships@consilium.europa.eu

💡 Did You Know? Council trainees have direct access to some of the most sensitive and consequential legislative processes in the EU — including working on files related to the EU budget, foreign policy, justice and home affairs, and climate legislation. Very few entry-level positions anywhere in European public life offer comparable exposure to real institutional decision-making from day one.

Eligibility — Standard Traineeship

🌍You are an EU citizen
🎓You hold at least a bachelor’s degree (or will have completed it by the application closing date)
🗣️You have proficiency in English or French at C1 level, plus very good knowledge of at least one other official EU language
🚫You have not previously worked or trained (paid or unpaid) at any EU institution, body, agency, or office for more than six weeks in total

Key Information

⏳ Deadline: 19 March 2026, 12:00 CET
📅 Next term: 1 September 2026 – 31 January 2027
📍 Location: Brussels, Belgium
💶 Grant: €1,538.16 net/month
👥 Positions: ~110 per year
🌍 Eligibility: EU citizens only

Application Link

🔗 Apply here: consilium.europa.eu — Traineeships

✉️ Questions: traineeships@consilium.europa.eu

⚠️ Important Notice

1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the opportunity organiser.

2️⃣ Responsibility for Content
The organiser is solely responsible for the accuracy, details, and updates of the opportunity content.

3️⃣ Right to Modify or Withdraw
Organisations reserve the right to make changes after publication — including eligibility criteria, conditions, or deadlines — or to withdraw the announcement entirely.

4️⃣ Disclaimer of Liability
YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any such changes, updates, or cancellations made by the organiser.

💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official organiser or programme website before applying.

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