European Parliament - Programme of traineeships for people with disabilities

What you get

For a five-month paid placement at the European Parliament, you will receive monthly grant of 1,889 EUR. In addition, you will receive up to 50% extra (around 945 EUR more) to cover the additional costs arising from your disability. This amounts to up to approximately 2,834 euros per month in Brussels or Luxembourg. In other locations, the amount is adjusted to reflect the local cost of living. Your workplace will be adapted to suit your needs.

This is a special recruitment pathway for candidates with disabilities as part of the European Parliament’s Schuman traineeships. You will gain practical work experience in areas such as communications, law, international relations, IT, human resources, administration and EU policy. You will work in Brussels, Luxembourg or Strasbourg, or at one of the European Parliament’s representations in an EU country.

Who can apply

• Disability: You have a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment of at least 20%. This has been confirmed by Parliament’s medical service.
• Age: You are 18 or older.
• Qualification: You must hold a full university degree. For a limited number of places, a vocational qualification is sufficient.
• Nationality: You are a national of an EU country or an accession or candidate country. A very limited number of places are also available to nationals of other countries.
• Languages: You are fluent in one of the EU’s official languages and have a very good command of a second one. If you are from a non-EU country, you will need a very good command of English, French or German.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• No long EU stint yet: You have not worked for, or undertaken a placement with, any EU institution, body or agency in the last two months or more. Furthermore, you have not undertaken a study placement at the Parliament’s Secretariat in the six months prior to starting work.
• Clean record: You can provide a valid criminal record certificate.

How to apply

You apply online via Parliament’s internship portal and select up to three internship placements. Apply from 1 to 31 May for the period October to February, or from 1 to 31 October for the period from March to July. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to submit documents proving your eligibility, and Parliament’s medical service will confirm your disability.

How realistic are your chances?

This route is reserved for a specific group: applicants with a recognised disability of at least 20%. You will therefore be competing against a smaller pool of applicants than in the general Schuman selection procedure. The Parliament awards around 500 posts per round and places great emphasis on inclusion, which benefits well-suited candidates. If you clearly meet the requirements regarding disability, qualifications and language skills, and apply within the tight one-month timeframe, your prospects are good.