Consilium Traineeships 2027: Paid 5-Month Council of the European Union Traineeships in Brussels
Consilium traineeships are now open for applications. Twice a year, the Council offers 5-month paid traineeships in Brussels, providing graduates with the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the work of the European Union and first-hand experience of EU policy-making.
Key Summary
- Opportunity: Consilium traineeships
- Organisation: Council of the European Union
- Location: Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪
- Date of closing of application (Brussels Time): 15/09/2026 12:00
- Date of the start of traineeship: 01/02/2027
- Duration: 5 months
- Traineeship grant: €1,538.16
- Traineeship positions: 110 positions available each year
- Type: Paid traineeship
- Fields: Policy, law, administration, communications, translation, IT and other areas
- Eligibility: EU citizenship, a bachelor’s degree or higher, required language skills and other eligibility criteria
- Languages: A very good knowledge of English or French and of at least one other EU language
- Previous experience: No previous work experience at another EU institution
👉 APPLY NOW: https://consilium.gestmax.eu/2279/1/paid-traineeship-february-june-2027/en_US
The traineeship programme
The Consilium traineeship programme allows graduates from a range of backgrounds to gain first-hand experience of EU policy-making.
The Council offers traineeships in different areas, such as:
- Policy
- Law
- Administration
- Communications
- Translation
- IT
110 traineeship positions are available each year.
The programme offers an opportunity to gain valuable insights into the work of the European Union, contribute to the Council’s daily activities and learn from colleagues and advisors.
Applications are now open!
Applications are now open for the Consilium traineeships running from 1 February to 30 June 2027.
You can apply until:
📅 15 September 2026, at 12:00 (Brussels time)
APPLY NOW: https://consilium.gestmax.eu/2279/1/paid-traineeship-february-june-2027/en_US
Who can apply?
Consilium traineeships are open to everybody, subject to certain eligibility criteria.
🇪🇺 EU citizenship
Applicants must meet the programme’s EU citizenship requirements.
🎓 A bachelor’s degree or higher
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
🌍 Language requirements
Applicants must have a very good knowledge of English or French and of at least one other EU language.
💼 Previous EU institutional experience
Applicants must have no previous work experience at another EU institution, subject to the detailed eligibility requirements of the programme.
👉 Who can apply for a traineeship: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/who-can-apply-for-a-traineeship/
What is offered
The Consilium traineeship programme gives young professionals the opportunity to:
- Gain insights into the work of the EU
- Be involved in the Council’s daily activities
- Learn from colleagues and advisors
- Contribute to shaping important decisions
- Gain practical experience of EU policy-making
Traineeships are paid and include allowances and other benefits.
👉 Your traineeship: tasks, grants, allowances: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/your-traineeship-tasks-grants-allowances/
Positive action programme for trainees with a disability
Each year, the Council reserves up to six traineeships for EU nationals with a recognised disability.
The programme offers participants a unique insight into EU policy and law-making, whilst providing them with special workplace arrangements, as necessary.
👉 Positive action programme for trainees with a disability: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/positive-action-programme-for-trainees-with-a-disability/
Traineeships for students from national administration schools
In addition to the general traineeship programme, the Council offers traineeships for students from national administration schools.
These traineeships provide students with unique insights into the processes and policies of the EU institutions.
They last between two and five months.
👉 Traineeships for students from national administration schools: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/traineeships-for-students-of-national-administration-schools/
Traineeship calendar
The Council offers traineeships twice a year.
First traineeship period: February to June
The first traineeship period runs from 1 February to 30 June.
- Applications: Mid-July to mid-September
- Selection and interviews: October to December
- Traineeship: February to June
For the current application round, the traineeship will run from:
1 February to 30 June 2027
Second traineeship period: September to January
The second traineeship period runs from 1 September to 31 January.
- Applications: February and March
- Selection of candidates: April to June
- Traineeship: September to January
How to apply for a traineeship
Interested candidates should review the eligibility requirements and submit their application through the Council’s online application system.
👉 Apply for the Consilium Traineeship: https://consilium.gestmax.eu/2279/1/paid-traineeship-february-june-2027/en_US
👉 How to apply for a traineeship: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/how-to-apply-for-a-traineeship/
Frequently asked questions
Candidates can consult the Council’s frequently asked questions for more information about the Consilium traineeships, including eligibility, applications and the traineeship programme.
👉 Traineeships: frequently asked questions: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/general-secretariat/careers/traineeships/frequently-asked-questions/
Council rules on traineeships
The Consilium traineeship programme is governed by the Council’s rules on traineeships.
👉 Decision No. 14/25 on traineeships: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/5gicvwb1/de00014en25.pdf
Traineeships: frequently asked questions
Answers to the most popular questions regarding traineeships at the Council.
Please find below the most frequently asked questions. You can find the full list of questions and answers in the following document:
If you don’t find an answer to your question, you can contact the traineeships office:
Application
Can I do a traineeship during the summer?
No. Traineeships are not offered during the summer.
Traineeships are only possible during the two official periods:
- February to June (first period)
- September to January (second period)
Are spontaneous applications considered?
No. All applications for a traineeship must follow the application procedure described on the website.
I am a citizen from a candidate country. Can I apply for a traineeship?
No. Traineeships are only open to candidates from candidate countries that have concluded EU accession negotiations. As there are currently no candidate countries that have concluded negotiations, it’s not possible for their citizens to apply.
What proof do I need of EU citizenship?
Applicants must hold a passport or ID card from an EU country. Residence permits are not accepted.
I have not yet received my bachelor’s degree. Can I apply for a paid traineeship?
To be eligible, the candidate must obtain a diploma at bachelor (BA) level or higher by the closing date for applications at the latest.
Can I apply for a traineeship in different EU institutions at the same time?
You can apply for a traineeship at different EU institutions at the same time if you fulfil the eligibility criteria.
Selection procedure
How are trainees selected?
Trainees are selected based on merit, considering the information provided in the application form.
Candidates might be interviewed by telephone or online. In this case the traineeships office will contact candidates beforehand to arrange a suitable time. Where candidates are judged to be 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. Applications are scrutinised and compared against the profile sought by the various departments of the General Secretariat of the Council.
Do I have to send copies of certificates concerning my language skills?
You do not need to send any certificates at the application stage.
If you are selected for the traineeship, you will 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, date and sign a short declaration explaining the circumstances justifying the lack of supporting documents (e.g. a course, your second mother tongue, living in a country, etc.).
After selection
Should I provide translations of supporting documents?
No. Supporting documents are accepted in all official languages of the EU. It is helpful to also provide an English or French version of diplomas, if available.
Do the copies of supporting documents need to be certified as authentic copies of the originals?
No. Supporting documents need to be sent by email. There is no need to provide certified copies. Upon arrival trainees might be asked to present the originals of supporting documents.
During the traineeship
Am I entitled to annual leave?
Trainees are entitled to 2 days leave per worked month, in addition to public holidays and days when Council offices are closed.
Health insurance is mandatory. Is the European health insurance card for my country enough?
Yes. We accept the copy of your European health insurance card as proof. It is your responsibility to check the cover it offers. In the absence of other cover (e.g. European health insurance card), trainees can opt for health insurance through the Council. In this case, paid trainees pay circa €20 per month, which corresponds to one third of the premium, and the Council pays the remaining two thirds.
Are trainees insured?
All trainees benefit from accident insurance.
Financial aspects
How much is the grant?
Presently the grant is €1 538.16 net/month.
Does the Council of the European Union cover the cost of travel from my place of residence to Brussels?
Trainees receive a travel allowance as a contribution towards their travel expenses. Trainees who are recruited from a place more than 50 km from Brussels are entitled to a contribution towards travel expenses at the beginning and at the end of the traineeship.
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.
Related documents and publications
Apply now
If you are a graduate interested in gaining first-hand experience of EU policy-making and valuable insights into the work of the European Union, the Consilium traineeship programme offers an opportunity to work in Brussels and contribute to the Council’s daily activities.
Applications close on 15 September 2026 at 12:00 (Brussels time).
👉 APPLY NOW: https://consilium.gestmax.eu/2279/1/paid-traineeship-february-june-2027/en_US
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