Opportunities at the heart of the European Union

The European Union institutions have a well-paid traineeship scheme. It may seem of little or no interest for graduates in Middle Eastern studies or related subjects, but in fact this is not the case. The EU has developed close ties with a number of North African and Middle Eastern countries and runs bilateral and multilateral programs with them; the interest of the EU towards this region has become stronger and stronger after the 2011 developments in the Arab world. While it’s probably easier to get a traineeship with a background in European Studies or Economics, maybe there’s a spot open for area studies graduates.

The Committee of the Regions is the political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice inside the European Union. What’s that to do with us? Well, it seems that the CoR is also active in the international scene with a unit working with Mediterranean partners and managing decentralised cooperation programs.

Offer by: Committee of the Regions (CoR).

Position: CoR Traineeship.

Profile: nationals of a Member States of the EU or of a State which is an official candidate for accession, have completed at least the first cycle of a higher education course and obtained a full degree.

Languages: have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU-working language (French or English).

Where: Brussels, Belgium.

When: 16 February to 15 July 2012.

Pay: 1000 Euro per month plus travel allowance.

Apply by: 30 September 2011.

I already posted the European Parliament traineeship before, but the deadline is approaching so I repost it here. The rules are below; among the possible preferences for the directorates in which to serve there is the DG for External Policies which might be of interest here.

Offer by: Secretariat of the European Parliament.

Position: EP Traineeship.

Profile: nationals of a Member State of the EU or of an applicant country, having obtained a university degree after a course of study of at least three years’ duration and having produced a substantial written paper, as part of the requirements for a university degree or for a scientific journal.

Languages: thorough knowledge of one of  the official languages of the European Union and a good knowledge of a second.

Where: Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg, Strasbourg (France).

When: March/July 2012.

Pay: 1000 Euro per month plus travel allowance.

Apply by: 15 October 2011.

That’s it, prepare your application and good luck!