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.
Twice a year 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 different types of traineeship offered by the EESC are:
I. Long traineeships
Candidates are university graduates. Candidates must have a thorough knowledge of one EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language, one of which must be English or French. Candidates from non-Member States are required to have only a thorough knowledge of English or French.
Long traineeships last for five months and are arranged twice a year: from 16 February to 15 July (spring session) and from 16 September to 15 February (autumn session).
Trainees receive a monthly grant of 1.176,84 EUR. Trainees who are already paid, may not receive any financial contribution.
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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.
Candidates have a through knowledge of one EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language, one of which must be English or French. Candidates from non-Member States are required to have only a thorough knowledge of English or French.
Short-term, unpaid traineeships may take place any times of the year.
Application periods:
– 1st July – 30th September (Spring traineeship Feb-July)
– 3rd January – 31st March (Autumn traineeship Sep-Feb)
Application forms and more information can be obtained here.
