European Union 2024 Fully Funded Blue Book Traineeship

The European Union Blue Book Traineeship is a prestigious and fully funded internship program open to both EU and non-EU students. The traineeship is five months long and offers interns the opportunity to gain practical experience and insight into the European Union’s operations. The program, which takes place in Belgium and Luxembourg, begins in March 2024.

• Table of Content
• About European Commission
• European Union Blue Book Traineeship
• Aim and Benefits of European Union Blue Book Traineeship
• Requirements for European Union Blue Book Traineeship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for European Union Blue Book Traineeship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About European Commission

We are the European Commission’s department for International Partnerships under the leadership of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen. Our role is to: work together with partner countries across the world to achieve sustainable development design the EU’s international partnership and development policy We are responsible for formulating the EU’s international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate goal to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development, and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world. EU Internationa... continue reading

European Union Blue Book Traineeship

Aim and Benefits of European Union Blue Book Traineeship

nterns in the EU Blue Book Traineeship program enjoy a variety of benefits. These include:

1. An opportunity to gain first-hand experience in international diplomacy.
2. A monthly allowance of €1350.
3. Visa and medical fee reimbursement.
4. Fully covered travel expenses, including airfare tickets.
5. Unrivalled exposure to the workings of the European Union.
6. A chance to expand professional network and enhance career prospects.

Requirements for European Union Blue Book Traineeship Qualification

Applicants to the EU Blue Book Traineeship must meet the following criteria:

1. Be an EU citizen or a limited number of non-EU nationals.
2. Have completed a standard 3-year higher education degree (undergraduates, graduates, and current master’s students are all welcome to apply).
3. Have no prior work experience.
4. Possess a good command of English.
5. No IELTS or TOEFL tests are required.

Interview date, Process and Venue for European Union Blue Book Traineeship

From application to selection: how does the process work?

1. Receipt of applications

You register, complete and submit your application together with all supporting documents.

For traineeships beginning in October, applications open in January.

Applications for traineeships beginning in March open in July.

2. Assessment and eligibility check

Once the application period has ended, your application is evaluated on basis of academic profile, language skills and additional competences, skills and qualities, such as having an international profile, work experience, certificates and other achievements.

Applications not meeting eligibility criteria and formal requirements or unsupported or supported only partially by justification documents are rejected.? 

The highest scored candidates, around 3 000 successful candidates, are included into the Virtual Blue Book (VBB).

3. Selection

Candidates included in the Blue Book are invited to apply for up to three traineeship positions.   

You will receive instructions to connect to Virtual Blue Book portal where Commission Directorates-General (DGs), services  and agencies propose various positions for the nearest traineeship session. The number of proposed positions matches the number of trainees per session.    

Carefully read the job description and the details of the post. You may mark as many positions as you like as favourites.  You may apply for up to three posts in parallel.  

Applications for traineeship positions in VBB will be allowed for one week. Post openings will be unpublished as soon as the maximum number of applicants has been reached or after one week. During the following two weeks, Directorates-General (DGs), services and agencies will select the most suitable candidates from all candidates who applied for their posts.     

Certain Commission departments or agencies entitled to select trainees might contact their candidates directly for an informal interview, while others rely solely on the application forms.   

If none of your 3 applications in VBB is successful, you still have a chance to be selected by any Service whose opening has not yet been closed.   

After the first selection round, DGs, services and agencies will still have access to the complete list of unselected candidates. This second selection phase will continue as long as there are vacant positions or until the VBB is closed. 

The last date to apply for the EU Blue Book Traineeship 2024 is 31st August 2023. The traineeship program will commence in March 2024.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

1. Create an EU Login account or log in with an existing one.
2. Complete and submit the application form along with your supporting documents.
3. If successful, you will be invited to check the openings published on the VBB portal and apply for a chosen traineeship post.

For more details visit: EU website.