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PRESS RELEASE
February 18, 2005

EU Trainee Opportunities for young University Graduates

The European Commission is offering in-service training for young university graduates who are 30 years old and under. It is open to both EU and non-EU nationals, including Caribbean nationals.

The training is for five-month periods and involves work experience in one of the Commission’s departments. There are two training periods each year, running from March 1st and from October 1st. For in-service training that starts in October 2005 the deadline is March 1st. While the age limit for trainees is 30, the head of the traineeship office may, if there is good reason, make exceptions to this age limit at the applicant’s request.

There are approximately 600 places available for each in-service training period. Applicants must have a university degree and have a thorough knowledge of one Community language. For practical reasons it is preferable to have a good command of one of the working languages of the Commission (English, French or German).

The work given to trainees is equivalent to that given to junior executive-grade officials, such as compiling information and documentation, organising working groups, forums, public hearings and meetings, preparing reports and replying to queries, participation in team meetings, filing, linguistic revision of texts.etc.

Currently the majority of applications come from candidates with qualifications in law, political science, international relations and economics. However, the Commission is also very keen to take on trainees with other qualifications such as computer sciences, agricultural technology, education studies, bio-chemical engineering, health and food safety, energy management, auditing, psychology, financial management, design, multi-media, sports management etc.

Applications are to be made via the internet. The website address for applications and further information is http://europa.eu.int/comm/stages. The deadline for the next round is in two weeks.