European Union EESC Internship 2026 in Belgium (Paid)

The European Union EESC Traineeships 2026 are paid traineeship/internship programs at the European Economic & Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels, Belgium. They are for both university students and graduates, intended to give hands-on experience in various business units (communication, legal, HR, etc.), and to expose participants to working in a multicultural EU institution. These take place in Spring 2026, with different durations depending on whether you are a student or graduate.

Eligibility

• Open to both EU and non-EU nationals.
• Long-term traineeship:
  • must hold a recognized university degree (at least 3 years).
• Short-term traineeship:
  • for university students for whom the traineeship is compulsory for completing their studies.
• Must be medically fit.
• Available during the traineeship dates.
• Proficiency in one of the languages: English or French.
• Applicants who have already done a traineeship at one of the EU institutes/agencies are not eligible

Program Dates/Location

• Long-term traineeship deadline (Spring 2026 session): September 30, 2025.
• Short-term traineeship deadline: Accepted all year long, but applicants should submit at least 2 months before the intended start date.
• Location: European Economic & Social Committee (EESC), Brussels, Belgium.
• Duration: Spring 2026, between February and July 2026 (for the Spring session).
  • Short-term traineeship: 1-3 months
  • Long-term traineeship: 5 months

Program Benefits

• Monthly grant for long-term trainees (5 months) — e.g. around €1,418.20/month for sessions like autumn 2024.
• Short-term trainees (1-3 months) receive 50% of the long-term grant.
• Travel allowance (flat-rate) under certain conditions: you get it if you complete at least half the traineeship, and if the distance from your place of residence to Brussels is more than 50 km one way.
• Accident insurance is provided.
• Covered or mandatory health insurance if you are not already covered by another scheme.
• Leave: 2 days of leave per month worked.

Required Documents

• National ID or Passport.
• University degree (for graduates) or certificate of enrolment (for students).
• Police clearance certificate.
• Health insurance.
• For short-term internship:
  • a letter from the academic institute stating the traineeship is required for the degree program.

Application Process

• Visit the official EESC online portal.
• Choose the kind of traineeship: Long-term (for graduates) or Short-term (for students).
• Complete the provided online application form after choosing the kind of traineeship.
• Upload/submitted required documents as listed above.
• Shortlisted applicants are assigned to a business unit based on profile.
• If selected, receive an acceptance letter.