European Parliament Traineeships 2024: Young professionals and recent graduates have a priceless opportunity to gain first-hand experience within one of the most important political institutions in the European Union with the European Parliament Traineeships 2024. These highly sought-after international internships offer a distinctive look at how the European Parliament operates. The European Parliament offers two types of internships: Schuman internships, which are internships with the Secretariat, and internships with members of the European Parliament. Continue reading to the end if you want to learn how to become an EU trainee.
Nevertheless, the European Parliament provides a paid internship program known as the Schuman traineeship or traineeship within the Secretariat that can be completed in any of the institution’s official locations, including Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, and its Liaison Offices throughout the Member States. This five-month training program is being offered in Robert Schuman’s memory. An excellent opportunity to advance one’s education and professional preparation is a Schuman traineeship. Additionally, it gives them a distinctive perspective on how the EU institutions function. A special emphasis is placed on the European Parliament, which acts as a crucial forum for political discourse and decision-making at the EU level. Additionally, the 2024 Schuman Traineeships cover a wide range of topics, such as EU internal and external policies, finance, law, administration, infrastructure, multilingualism, logistics, communication, and IT. Each year, the European Parliament chooses about 800 Schuman trainees.
Similar to the first type, paid traineeships with members of the European Parliament may be offered in Brussels (or Strasbourg) at the European Parliament’s offices under a contract with the institution. The traineeships offered to MEPs cover a wide range of topics, and the Member of Parliament who grants the traineeship will assign particular tasks to be completed throughout the traineeship. The duration of this traineeship with the European Parliament is approximately six weeks to five months. Similarly, for people who are enthusiastic about European affairs and governance, European Parliament Traineeships 2024 offers a vibrant and enriching experience. They give young professionals a platform to actively contribute to determining the direction of the European Union.
European Parliament Traineeships 2024
- Country: Brussels/Luxembourg
- Financial coverage: Paid
- Deadline: October 31, 2023
Eligibility Criteria for the European Parliament Traineeships:
For the Schuman Traineeship:
- Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
- They must hold a university-level diploma.
- Eligible candidates must be nationals of a European Union Member State or an accession/candidate country. In some cases, a limited number of traineeships may be available to nationals of other countries.
- Proficiency in one of the official EU languages is essential, along with an excellent command of a second official language.
- For non-Member State citizens, a very good knowledge of either English, French, or German is required.
- Candidates must provide a criminal record that meets the eligibility criteria.
- Furthermore, individuals who have already worked or benefited from any other type of traineeship in an EU institution, body, or agency for more than two consecutive months are not eligible.
For the Members of the European Parliament Traineeship:
- Trainees must be 18 years of age or older.
- Eligible candidates must be citizens of a European Union Member State or a candidate country. However, members have the option to offer traineeships to individuals from third countries, provided they meet visa requirements.
- Candidates should hold a secondary school leaving certificate equivalent to the level required for university admission. Alternatively, they may have completed a higher or technical education program at a similar level or possess a university degree.
- They should not be in any formal employment contract.
- Candidates are ineligible if they previously did a traineeship with a member or as a parliamentary assistant to a member.
Benefits of the European Parliament Traineeships:
- All trainees for the Schuman traineeship will receive a monthly stipend of around 1496€ per month in Brussels and Luxembourg. In other countries, the allowance will be adapted to align with the respective local cost of living standards.
- Along with this, successful candidates will also receive a travel allowance.
- For the traineeships with Members of the European Parliament, individuals will receive a grant between €912 and €1495 per month.
- The individual will have the opportunity to explore the inner workings of the EU, with a specific focus on understanding the functioning of the European Parliament.
- Candidates will gain insight into the behind-the-scenes operations of the Parliament and actively contribute to its day-to-day activities.
- Similarly, this experience will provide them with practical involvement in the decision-making processes within the EU.
- They will also collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds in a multicultural and multilingual setting. Hence fostering a rich and inclusive work environment.
- Their time at the European Parliament will allow them to further develop and apply the knowledge acquired during their university studies.
- Moreover, many former trainees go on to pursue successful careers within EU institutions and national governments.
- Living in Brussels or Luxembourg also exposes trainees to rich European cultures, allowing them to explore historical sites, cuisine, and events.
Application Process for European Parliament Traineeships:
- Are you thinking about how to apply for the European Parliament Traineeships 2024? Keep reading to understand the application process.
- Candidates have the opportunity to select and apply for a maximum of three traineeships.
- In the event of being shortlisted, candidates will need to provide specific supporting documents to demonstrate their eligibility.
- Similarly, successful candidates will receive an official Admission Letter via email.
- The Schuman traineeships are awarded for a period of five months.
- To apply for traineeships with Members of the European Parliament, it is essential to directly get in touch with European Parliament Members.
- This specific traineeship’s duration varies. Ranging from six weeks to five consecutive months, this period is determined by the Member of Parliament granting the traineeship. The start date can be flexible and is not limited to a specific time of the year.
- The deadline for the European Parliament and Schuman traineeships is 31 October 2023 for the traineeship period 1 March – 31 July 2024.