Working in the Parliament and the EU Institutions
Where to apply?
European Parliament
If you decide that you would like to work in the European Parliament you have two options. You can either apply for the European Parliament’s official traineeship program, or you can apply for a political position in the office of a MEP or a political group.
The Parliament’s traineeship program offers paid placement for a period of five months. The traineeship includes a general option, a journalism option and traineeships for translators and interpreters. For more information, please visit the European Parliament’s traineeship website.
If you decide that you would like to undertake a political internship in an office of a MEP, then the next thing you must decide is which office to apply to. From time to time Parliamentary Assistant jobs in MEP offices become available. I recommend that you regularly check on the internet on websites such as W4MP, eurobrussels and Euractive Jobs for such opportunities. Otherwise, the best place to inquire about internships and available jobs is directly with the MEP offices.
First of all, you need to think about which party you would like to work for. Once you know which party you sympathise with, have a look at the website of the UK Office of the European Parliament which has a full list of theUK’s MEPs. This will give you information as to which region the MEP represents and what policy areas they cover. This information is not only important so that you can match you interests to the MEPs’ but also vital information that must be included in you application.
Once you have identified the MEP or MEPs which you would like to work for then you can use their parliamentary email addressees to send in an application. Remember to follow the application guidelines on this site.
In addition to the above, the Conservatives in the European Parliament offer two six month internships working for the UKdelegation of the ECR Group. The internships are offered twice a year and are based in Brusselswith a monthly stipend. For more information please contact Stephen Woodard.
European Commission
Very much like the European Parliament, the European Commission offers regular paid traineeships that last for five months. They are often very competitive but are seen as the gateway to a career in the EU Institutions or simply as a great way to gain experience of the EU. For more information on how to apply, please visit the European Commission’s traineeship website.
If you have proffessional experience, you may wish to apply directly for a job in the EU institutions. For more information, please visit the European Personnel Selection Office.
