About the EPP Group

The Group of the European People's Party (EPP Group) is the largest and oldest group in the European Parliament. As a centre-right group, the Group is committed to creating a stronger Europe, building on its people and working towards the benefit of all Europeans. It aims to build a more ambitious and self-assured Europe where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. In its day-to-day business, the Group and its Members can rely on the multinational secretariat that provides high-quality political, administrative and technical support.

What do we offer?

The EPP Group’s traineeship programme offers an excellent opportunity for university graduates and undergraduate students to gain experience and practical knowledge of working in an international, multilingual and multicultural environment of the EPP Group and the European Parliament.

We offer the following types of traineeships in our Secretariat in Brussels (Belgium):

Option 1) 5-month full-time (40 hrs/week) paid traineeship for graduates

Option 2) unpaid 3-month full-time (40 hrs/week) traineeship for undergraduates

Compensation and benefits

• Monthly allowance of €1,700 to cover living costs in Brussels for graduates;
• Reimbursement of mission costs (travel and accommodation) to attend one plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg;
• a Sickness and accident insurance.

When?

Approximate timetable

Spring Traineeship starting in February:

Deadline for applications - 15 November, 12:00 CET.

What will you do?

You will be assigned to one of the three Directorates and actively contribute to its daily political and administrative work. One of our experienced supervisors will follow your work and guide you in all assigned tasks and projects during your traineeship. The nature of your duties will depend on the specific Directorate to which you will be assigned assigned and may include a selection of the tasks described below.

1)    Parliamentary Work Directorate – Internal Policies

The Parliamentary Work Directorate Trainee will work under the guidance of experienced team members and contribute to the Directorate's daily activities, including:

• Following the work of Parliamentary Committees and plenary sessions;
• Assisting with legislative files, including reports, amendments and resolutions;
• Researching EU policies covering economic, environmental, budgetary, legal and home affairs;
• Attending Committee and coordination meetings and drafting minutes;
• Supporting coordination with MEPs' offices, Committee secretariats and relevant stakeholders.

2)    External Policies Directorate – Committees and Delegations

The External Policies Directorate Trainee will work under the guidance of experienced team members and contribute to the Directorate's daily activities, including:

• Monitoring international developments and EU foreign policy issues;
• Following Parliamentary Committees and interparliamentary delegations;
• Conducting research on foreign affairs, security and defence, human rights and EU external relations;
• Preparing briefings, speaking points, reports and meeting minutes;
• Assisting with Parliamentary reports, amendments and resolutions;
• Supporting the preparation and follow-up of Committee meetings, delegation activities and plenary debates.

3)    Strategy, Foresight & Network Directorate

The Strategy, Foresight & Network Directorate Trainee will work under the guidance of experienced team members and contribute to the Directorate's daily activities, including:

• Monitoring EU political developments, public opinion and emerging trends;
• Conducting research and preparing briefings, speeches, reports and other documents;
• Supporting the Group's strategic planning and outreach activities;
• Assisting in the organisation of conferences, political meetings and EPP Group events;
• Supporting exchanges with national parliaments, political networks and external stakeholders;
• Assisting with intercultural and religious dialogue initiatives.

Who can apply?

Admission requirements

Option 1) Paid Traineeship

The candidates who:

• Are nationals of a Member State of the EU or of an associated or candidate country;
• Have a very good knowledge (at least CEFR B2 level) of two official EU languages, one of which should be English, French or German (EU citizens) OR have a very good knowledge of the English language (non-EU citizens);
• Have not been granted a paid traineeship in the EU institutions/MEP offices and have not already been in gainful employment after the completion of their studies;
• Have a university degree or have completed at least three years of study (six semesters) at a university or an equivalent institute of higher education.

Option 2) Unpaid Traineeship

The candidates who:

• Are nationals of a Member State of the EU or of an associated or candidate country;
• Have a very good knowledge (at least CEFR B2 level) of two official EU languages, one of which should be English, French or German (EU citizens) OR have a very good knowledge of the English language (non-EU citizens);
• Have not been granted a paid traineeship in the EU institutions/MEP offices and have not already been in gainful employment after the completion of their studies;
• If they do not have a university degree or have not completed at least three years of study (six semesters) at a university or an equivalent institute of higher education, candidates must provide an attestation from the university stating that a traineeship is required in the framework of the studies and its required length.

How to apply?

Admission documents

All candidates MUST:

Option 1) Paid Traineeship

• Complete the online application in English form available when clicking on the Apply button below;
• Upload a Europass CV in English;

• Upload a one-page PDF document in English answering the following questions:

  (Your answers must be in Times New Roman font, size 12 and contain a maximum of 250 words per question):

  1. Why have you chosen this traineeship in the EPP Group?
  2. Why are you applying to the specific Directorate/Unit?
• Upload the following supporting documents as a single PDF file, including:
  • A letter of recommendation from a university professor;
  • Documents proving the knowledge of the languages (certificates or diplomas);
  • ID card or passport;
  • University studies diploma(s) OR a certificate proving that you completed at least six semesters at a university;
  • (Optional) a letter of recommendation from a political figure (local, national or European) belonging to the EPP family;

Option 2) Unpaid Traineeship

• Complete the online application form in English available when clicking on the Apply button below;
• Upload a Europass CV in English;

• Upload a one-page PDF document in English answering the following questions:

  (Your answers must be in Times New Roman font, size 12 and contain a maximum of 250 words per question):

  1. Why have you chosen this traineeship in the EPP Group?
  2. Why are you applying to the specific Directorate/Unit?
• Upload the following supporting documents as a single PDF file, including:
  • A letter of recommendation from a university professor;
  • Documents proving the knowledge of the languages (certificates or diplomas);
  • ID card or passport;
  • An attestation from the university stating that a traineeship is compulsory within the framework of the studies and its required length (maximum 3 months);
  • (Optional) a letter of recommendation from a political figure (local, national or European) belonging to the EPP family;

We particularly encourage qualified candidates with disabilities to apply for the traineeship.

CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT MEET ALL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS OR FAIL TO UPLOAD ADMISSION DOCUMENTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ELIMINATED FROM THE SELECTION PROCEDURE.

Candidates may APPLY FOR ONLY ONE of the currently open traineeship calls. CANDIDATES WHO APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE TRAINEESHIP CALL WILL HAVE ALL THEIR APPLICATIONS DISREGARDED.

Please note that your selected option of the Directorate in which you would like to undertake your traineeship does not constitute an automatic placement. The final decision lies with the Selection Committee while taking into account the availability of the traineeship positions and the Group's needs.

You may contact the Human Resources Unit of the EPP Group by email eppgroup-traineeships@europarl.europa.eu only if you encounter technical problems.