At Youth Works Hub, we went through this call so you know exactly how the General Secretariat of the Council's traineeship works: a five-month paid placement in Brussels, with a monthly grant, a restaurant allowance, a travel allowance and paid leave, working alongside the teams that support EU decision-making.

What the Traineeship Is

🏛️ Twice a year the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU offers 5-month paid traineeships in Brussels, in two periods: 1 February to 30 June, and 1 September to 31 January.

📋 Trainees are placed across the Secretariat's teams (from economics, finance, environment, foreign affairs and justice to communication, HR, IT and translation), with no age limit.

The Three Streams

💼 Regular paid traineeship — the main route, open to EU citizens (details below).

♿ Positive Action Programme for trainees with a disability — for EU nationals with a recognised disability who are at least third-year students, with the same grant plus up to a 50% disability allowance.

🏫 Traineeships for students of national administration schools — for students from EU Member States or candidate countries that have signed the accession treaty; applications are sent by the school, and the Council provides no grant or travel for this stream.

Who Can Apply (Regular Stream)

🇪🇺 You must be an EU citizen and hold a university degree (bachelor's level or higher) by the application closing date.

🗣️ Proficiency in English or French (C1) and very good knowledge of at least one other EU official language.

🚫 No previous training (paid or unpaid) or employment of more than six weeks at any EU institution, body, agency or office.

🗺️ Interested in EU-adjacent communications work in Brussels? See Communications and Events at a Renewable Energy Industry Alliance in 🇧🇪 Belgium → https://youthworkshub.org/20520

What You're Paid

💶 A monthly grant of €1,538.16 net.

🍽️ A €70 monthly allowance for the Council's restaurants, plus a travel allowance.

🌴 Two days of leave per month (with up to a 50% disability allowance added for the Positive Action stream).

💼 Want the bigger picture on funded placements abroad? Read Paid Internships Abroad for Students → https://youthworkshub.org/paid-internships-abroad

Good to Know

📊 The General Secretariat takes in around 110 trainees per year across the two five-month periods.

ℹ️ An info session is held on 16 September for detailed programme information.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much is the grant? €1,538.16 net per month, plus a €70 restaurant allowance and a travel allowance.

❓ When does it run? Five months, either 1 February to 30 June or 1 September to 31 January.

❓ Who can apply to the regular stream? EU citizens with a university degree, C1 English or French plus another EU language, and no prior EU-institution stint over six weeks.

❓ Is there support for applicants with a disability? Yes, via the Positive Action Programme, with an additional allowance.

Deadline

⏳ 15 September 2026, 12:00 CEST

Links

🔗 Regular traineeship application: https://consilium.gestmax.eu/apply/2278/1

🔗 Positive Action (disability) application: https://consilium.gestmax.eu/apply/2277/1

🔗 National administration schools: traineeships@consilium.europa.eu

🔗 More information: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/

For more EU institution opportunities, explained clearly, visit Youth Works Hub.

⚠️ Important Notice

Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying