The EU Abroad: Traineeship at the European External Action Service
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European External Action Service
by Leonie Klüver, 7 minutes
Ever wanted to go abroad for an internship? Are you interested in experiencing the EU firsthand without having to move to Brussels? Do foreign policy and diplomacy excite you?
Then you should consider applying for a traineeship at the European External Action Service (EEAS).
In 2009 the Lisbon Treaty formally established the EEAS in Art. 27 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Before this Treaty, EU foreign policy was handled both by the Commission and the European Council. As the European integration project slowly progressed toward pooling sovereignty not only in the economic domain but also in the political domain, both the Commission and the European Council established their separate foreign policy departments. However, this led to miscommunication and lacked efficiency. Henry Kissinger is often quoted to have asked who to call if one wants to speak with the European Union. Although he never actually said those words, it represents the initial motivation to establish a new foreign policy institution.
Both the external relations department of the EU Commission and that of the Council were merged and joined by diplomats of EU member states. Now the EEAS serves as the EU’s diplomatic service. The Lisbon Treaty structured the EEAS as an independent institution and although it interconnects with both the Commission and the Council, it is led and represented internationally by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP). This HR position is unique in the regard that the person holding the position is also the Vice-President of the EU Commission and President of the Foreign Affairs Council. This three-headed position primarily aims to answer Henry Kissinger’s question: you call the HR if you want to speak with the EU. Nonetheless, as several foreign policy meetings show, oftentimes both Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, and Josep Borrell, HR meet with the heads of states.
The primary function of the EEAS is to help carry out the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). It works closely with diplomats and the foreign ministries of the EU member states as well as multilateral organizations such as the United Nations. Divided into geographical areas and thematic directorates, the EEAS promotes human rights, supports democracy, responds to crises, and manages migration and economic development internationally. While there are responsible departments at the headquarter in Brussel, the EEAS also has 140 EU delegations to countries and organizations. Those delegations are responsible for their respective country and cover all thematic directorates.
What are traineeship opportunities for students?
The EEAS also offers traineeship positions in other EU institutions. The requirements for these were already covered by the blue&yellow team regarding traineeships in the Commission, the Parliament, the Council, and EU Agencies. However, rather than staying in one of the three EU cities, a traineeship at the EEAS can take you all across the globe. Predominantly, students or young professionals participate in a traineeship at an EU delegation in a specific country. These delegations act like an Embassy representing EU interests in the respective country.
Interested in doing a traineeship at the EEAS?
The requirements for this traineeship differ in some ways from other traineeships. Check our article on the Schuman and Bluebook traineeships to learn the requirements for them! Regarding traineeships at the EEAS, rather than having biannual deadlines, traineeship vacancies are open for specific delegations. That means, that to find whether there is an open vacancy, you must check their website regularly to consult the current openings. Here I should note that due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic most EEAS delegation vacancies are currently only open for people already residing in the specific country. The traineeships are also not limited to EU citizens but sometimes allow citizens from countries that signed an accession agreement with the EU or citizens from the host country. In regards to language requirements, the trainee is obliged to speak the working language of the EU delegation. If you speak the language of the host country as well you increase your chances of being chosen immensely. As for all traineeships, people with less than 6 weeks of working experience in the EU and less than one year of professional working experience will be considered. Your traineeship will have a duration between 1 to 6 months and although you will receive a disbursement between 300€ and 1200€, you might have to prove that you are capable of financing your living expenses during the traineeship.
There are four different ways to get into a traineeship at the EEAS:
A regularly funded traineeship after completing at least a Bachelor’s Degree.
An unpaid and compulsory traineeship that is part of your university curriculum.
If you are a trainee for a civil servant you might have the requirement to fulfil a traineeship which you can do at the EEAS.
f you are a student of a national administration school, the EEAS will also consider you as a possible trainee.
The application process itself can differ as countries might require different documents. Generally, you should expect to:
commit a CV in Europass format
a cover letter
an application form within the timeframe of the deadline.
Selected applicants are usually invited for an interview round. During the interview process do expect to clearly and confidently present your motivation to do this traineeship. As spots are very limited per delegation and those traineeships are in high demand, make sure to read the requirements carefully and only apply to positions that fit your profile.
Although the chances of receiving a traineeship offer at the EEAS appear relatively low, do check their vacancies website regularly and apply once you see a traineeship possibility that not only interests you but is also tailored to your CV. Be prepared to plan a long-time stay in a foreign country on rather short notice. All people consulted for this article strongly recommend this traineeship opportunity! So what are you waiting for?
