Traineeships at the Economic and Social Committee

The Economic and Social Committee (ESC) is an advisory body that gives Europe's economic and social partners (i.e. employers, trade unions, representatives of small businesses, farmers' associations, consumers, etc.) the chance to issue their formal opinion on EU policies.

The ESC organises in-service training periods of long (five months) and short duration (one to three months). The main aims of the in-service training are:
to conclude and apply knowledge acquired by the trainee during his/her studies or work;
to provide the trainee with practical knowledge of the working of the ESC's various departments;
to enable the trainees to gain experience through contacts established in day-to-day work.

The main areas of interest to the ESC are:
Consultative work: agriculture, rural development and the environment, economic and monetary union and economic and social cohesion, employment, social affairs and citizenship, external relations, the single market, production and consumption, transport, energy, infrastructure and the information society
Other areas: presidency and groups ("Employers", "Workers" and "Various Interests"), relations with socio-occupational bodies, Directorate of General Affairs, human and financial resources, translation, information technology and telecommunications.

I. Long traineeships
Candidates are university graduates who have acquired knowledge of one of the ESC's areas of activity in the course of their studies or in some other way: i.e. thesis, research, other European in-service training, etc. Candidates must have a thorough knowledge of one EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language. Candidates from non-member countries are required to have only a thorough knowledge of another EU language.

Long traineeships last for five months and are arranged twice a year: from 16 February to 15 July (Spring in-service training period) and from 16 September to 15 February (Autumn in-service training period).

Unemployed trainees may receive a monthly grant. Trainees who are already paid, may not receive any financial contribution.

II. Short traineeships
Candidates are university students who carry out the in-service training of one to three months in the course of their studies to complete their university degree or recent graduates. There is no age limit. Candidates have a through knowledge of one EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language. Candidates from non-member countries are required to have only a thorough knowledge of another EU language.
Short-term, unpaid traineeships may take place any times of the year.

Deadlines:
- 30 September at 12 noon CET (Spring traineeship Feb-July)
- 31 March at 12 noon CET (Autumn traineeship Sep-Feb)

Application forms and more information can be obtained from the web site below.

http://www.eesc.europa.eu