Coming straight from the current Blue Book trainees of the European Research Executive Agency (REA), this is your chance to get a glimpse of the reality behind their Brussels experience. For all of those interested in kick-starting their career in the EU institutions – get ready, draft your motivation letters and let’s start this journey!
Not only a policy hub
The Blue Book Traineeship offers a wide range of opportunities across various Directorates General (DGs), but this is not your only option – there are plenty of other institutions for your place of assignment.
The DGs serve as policy departments, overseeing areas such as health, education, finance, research, and many more. For those seeking hands-on experience, there are six Executive Agencies, each responsible for managing funding for programmes such as Horizon Europe or Erasmus+.
The European Research Executive Agency is responsible primarily for the field of research and innovation, helping build a greener Europe with inclusive societies. Working in one of the agencies gives you a broader perspective, allowing you to engage with EU-funded projects while observing their impact on policy.
Giusi, one of the current REA trainees, shares her experience: “I am a trainee in the Secure Society Unit managing EU-funded projects that focus on protection, secure EU borders, disaster resilience, and cybersecurity. I supported my team by contacting external experts that help us identify possible issues in EU-funded research projects. Additionally, I monitored projects’ data to understand their different development levels.”
A unique background plays in your favour!
The European Commission tackles topics across many fields, not solely focusing on foreign policy or law. This means that our colleagues come from all walks of life, and your unique background could be an advantage. Executive Agencies managing programmes such as Horizon Europe, often seek graduates in the fields of science and technology.
Mila, a REA trainee with an engineering background, says it better: “I personally do not have a political science or law background, and my profile as an environmental engineer was key to securing my traineeship, as it perfectly matched with one of the available offers.”
Fresh from university
Not enough work experience? Not a problem! Even though the traineeship is seen as highly competitive, you do not need extensive work experience to secure your spot. As the traineeship is designed to teach young professionals the ropes of working in the EU institutions, you will get to participate in many training workshops.
Maja, REA’s External Communication trainee shares: “Having less than a year of relevant work experience was enough to land the traineeship, as it is only one of the many selection criteria.”
Rejected before? Keep trying!
If you have tried applying multiple times and never got selected – this is your sign to try again! You would be surprised how many of the Blue Book trainees have landed their traineeship after multiple attempts.
Álvaro landed his external communication position at REA on his third try: “When the second rejection arrived, I decided to explore other options to gain further professional experience that could improve my application. After undergoing a one-year traineeship in Italy, I decided to apply again and finally got the chance to be a Blue Book Trainee. As we say in Spanish – ¡A la tercera va la vencida! (English translation: Third time’s a charm!)”
Not an EU expert? You can learn on the job
With many political science graduates applying for the traineeship, it might seem that a good understanding of EU institutions is necessary to be a successful applicant. That could not be further from the truth! There is no better place to expand your knowledge of the EU than from within.
Elisa, a biomedical science graduate, is currently a trainee at REA: “I had no idea that someone like me, with no prior knowledge of these institutions, could have a place there. But after talking to colleagues, I discovered that many people in scientific-oriented Directorates-General and Agencies have similar backgrounds, often with PhDs in STEM fields.”
Don’t miss out!
Applications for the March 2026 session are open from 15 July 2025 until 29 August 2025. Don’t let the myths deceive you and use your story to your advantage. Fingers crossed!
Curious about the European Research Executive Agency? Find out more on LinkedIn, X or Mastodon.
