Organization: European Commission
Program Name: Blue Book Traineeship programme
Category: Paid Traineeship
Duration: 5 months
Session: October 2026
Allowance: €1,538.16
The European Commission is accepting applications for the October 2026 session of its Blue Book Traineeship programme. According to the official programme website, this is a five-month paid traineeship offered twice a year for graduates who want to gain experience in EU policymaking, administration, and the work of European institutions and services.
What the Programme Offers
The official homepage describes the Blue Book Traineeship as a five-month paid opportunity that provides hands-on experience in EU policymaking and administration, professional skills for a global career, and intercultural awareness together with personal growth. Trainees work in a multicultural environment and gain exposure to the European Commission, its executive agencies, decentralised agencies, other bodies, and the European External Action Service.
Traineeship Types
The programme essentials page states that the European Commission offers two types of traineeships: Administrative traineeship, referred to as ADMIN, and Translation traineeship with the Directorate-General for Translation, referred to as DGT. The administrative traineeship is described as a traineeship focused on office operations, organisational functions, and administrative tasks.
Duration and Calendar
Each traineeship session lasts five months. The official calendar shows that the October 2026 traineeship runs from 1 October 2026 to 28 February 2027. The same calendar also lists the March 2027 traineeship period as 1 March 2027 to 31 July 2027. The programme runs two sessions a year and offers about 1,000 traineeship positions per session.
Financial Information
The living allowance listed on the programme essentials page is €1,538.16.
Where Trainees Work
According to the official website, trainees are placed across the European Commission, its services, and its agencies, mostly in Brussels, but also in Luxembourg and elsewhere in the European Union. Most placements are in Commission departments and executive agencies, with additional places available in other services and decentralised agencies.
Eligibility Criteria
For the administrative traineeship, applicants must have completed a full three-year university degree at EQF Level 6 or higher, or an equivalent qualification, and the diploma must already be obtained at the time of application. Candidates must also meet the required language conditions, hold a valid passport or national identity card, and provide documentary proof for the qualifications and experience declared in the application.
Applicants must be 18 years or older on the starting date of the traineeship. The eligibility rules also state that candidates with prior or ongoing professional experience in any European institution, body, or agency longer than six weeks, equal to 42 calendar days, will be excluded.
Language Criteria
EU nationals must show a very good knowledge of two official EU languages. The first must be English, French, or German at C1 or C2 level, or mother tongue, while the second official EU language must be at least B2 level, or mother tongue. Non-EU nationals must demonstrate a very good knowledge of English, French, or German at at least C1 or C2 level, or mother tongue.
Nationality Rules
The programme essentials page states that the Blue Book Traineeship is open to all eligible candidates from EU Member States, while a limited number of places are also available to non-EU nationals in specific Directorates-General or Services. The administrative traineeship eligibility page further states that applicants must be nationals of an EU member state or a candidate country benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, with a limited number of nationals of non-member states also accepted in specific Directorates-General or Services according to available resources.
Application Dates
The homepage confirms that registration for the October 2026 session is open. The official calendar states that applications for this session open on 16 March 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Brussels time and close on 7 April 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Brussels time.
Application Process
Applications are submitted online. The official administrative application page explains that candidates must first create an EU Login account, then complete the online application form and upload all required documents. Applicants may submit only one application per session and per traineeship type. The page also states that if a candidate applies for more than one traineeship type in the same session, all applications will be rejected.
