Council of the European Union Positive Action Programme 2027: Paid Traineeships in Brussels for EU Nationals with Disabilities ·Unknown

Applications are now open for the Council of the European Union Positive Action Programme for Trainees with a Disability 2027, an inclusive professional development opportunity designed for European Union nationals with a recognised disability.

Through this programme, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union offers selected candidates an opportunity to gain practical experience inside one of the European Union’s principal institutions. Participants will work in Brussels, contribute to the Council’s daily activities and receive direct exposure to European policy development, institutional administration and EU decision-making processes.

The current application round is for traineeships taking place from 1 February to 30 June 2027. The programme lasts five months, and applications must be submitted by 15 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Brussels time.

About the Council of the European Union Positive Action Programme

The Positive Action Programme is part of the Council’s commitment to equal opportunity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Under the programme, the Council reserves up to six traineeship positions each year for EU citizens with recognised disabilities.

The programme enables participants to obtain professional experience within the General Secretariat of the Council while receiving personalised assistance and reasonable workplace accommodations according to their individual requirements.

Participants are assigned to different teams and administrative areas within the Council. They gain an understanding of how European policies are prepared, negotiated, coordinated and implemented while contributing to the daily work of the institution.

The Council reports that between 2020 and 2024, 25 trainees with physical, mental, intellectual and sensory impairments worked in different Council teams through this initiative. The programme has also received the European Ombudsman Award for Excellence in Public Administration in the category of excellence in diversity and inclusion.

Programme Summary

Key information about the current traineeship intake includes:

• Host institution: General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
• Programme location: Brussels, Belgium
• Traineeship period: 1 February to 30 June 2027
• Duration: Five months
• Application deadline: 15 September 2026
• Deadline time: 12:00 noon Brussels time
• Available positions: Up to six places per year under the Positive Action Programme
• Target group: EU nationals with a recognised disability
• Working environment: General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union
• Application language: English or French
• Application method: Online application through the official Council traineeship portal

The Council normally offers two five-month traineeship periods each year:

1. From 1 February to 30 June
2. From 1 September to 31 January

The current application process relates to the first traineeship period of 2027.

Financial Support and Monthly Grant

The Positive Action Programme provides financial assistance to help selected trainees cover their expenses while living and working in Brussels.

The Council’s general traineeship information states that trainees receive a monthly net grant of €1,538.16. Participants in the Positive Action Programme may receive an additional disability allowance of up to 50% on top of the standard monthly grant.

For the February–June 2027 Positive Action Programme call, the official application portal displays a traineeship grant of €2,307.24. Applicants should carefully review their eventual traineeship offer and any accompanying financial documents to confirm the final amount and the application of the disability allowance in their individual case.

Other financial benefits and allowances available under the Council’s traineeship programme may include:

• A monthly meal allowance of €70
• A travel allowance depending on the trainee’s place of recruitment
• Two days of leave for every month worked
• Accident insurance
• Access to health insurance with partial reimbursement
• Access to Council library resources and services
• The option to join the Council’s gym for a fee

Trainees recruited from a location more than 50 kilometres from Brussels may be entitled to a contribution towards travel expenses at the beginning and end of the traineeship, subject to the applicable conditions.

Personalised Support and Workplace Accommodations

A major feature of the Positive Action Programme is the individualised support offered to trainees with disabilities.

After a candidate has been selected, the Council contacts the individual to discuss any specific workplace requirements. The objective is to ensure that the necessary equipment, software, assistance and ergonomic arrangements are available from the beginning of the traineeship.

Possible reasonable workplace accommodations include:

• A personal assistant to help the trainee navigate Council buildings
• Text-to-speech software
• Speech-to-text software
• Braille display equipment
• Ergonomic workplace support
• Appropriate computer hardware
• Specialised accessibility software
• Other individually assessed workplace adjustments

The Council does not apply a single standard solution to every trainee. Accommodation requirements are assessed individually so that support can be adapted to the trainee’s specific circumstances and professional environment.

What Selected Trainees Can Expect

A traineeship at the Council of the European Union provides direct exposure to the work of an important EU institution.

Selected participants may receive opportunities to:

• Gain first-hand experience of the Council’s work
• Understand European Union policies and institutional processes
• Contribute to the Council’s daily administrative and policy activities
• Work with professionals from different EU countries and backgrounds
• Apply academic knowledge in a professional setting
• Develop research, communication, organisational and analytical skills
• Attend institutional meetings and professional events
• Learn how Council preparatory bodies and administrative departments operate
• Participate in Council and European Parliament simulations
• Attend visits or conferences at other EU institutions
• Volunteer for projects in other Council departments
• Support activities connected with EU and international summits

The actual responsibilities assigned to each trainee depend on the department, policy area and operational requirements of the team in which the individual is placed.

Available Traineeship Areas

Applicants must select two traineeship areas, referred to as “domains,” when completing the online application.

The General Secretariat of the Council offers traineeship opportunities across a broad range of professional fields. These may include:

• Economy and finance
• Environment and climate policy
• Foreign affairs
• Justice and home affairs
• Legal affairs
• Communication and media relations
• Human resources
• Information technology
• Translation
• Institutional administration
• Data analysis and research
• Meeting and event coordination
• Policy development and legislative support

Applicants should select the two domains that most closely match their education, professional interests, knowledge and long-term career objectives.

Possible Tasks and Responsibilities

Trainees’ responsibilities vary according to the department in which they are placed. However, their duties may include:

• Preparing meetings and drafting minutes
• Attending meetings of Council preparatory bodies
• Conducting research for policy or administrative projects
• Collecting, organising and analysing information
• Supporting the preparation of official documents
• Drafting notes, summaries and publications
• Assisting with events and communication activities
• Translating documents
• Supporting policy teams in preparing Council meetings
• Contributing to the organisation of EU and international events
• Assisting with administrative coordination
• Providing research and documentation support to Council officials

These tasks give trainees practical exposure to institutional processes while allowing them to develop transferable professional skills.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all applicable eligibility conditions by the application deadline.

1. European Union Citizenship

Candidates must be citizens of an EU Member State. A valid passport or national identity card issued by an EU country is required as evidence of citizenship.

Holding a residence permit in an EU country is not sufficient. Applicants from EU candidate countries are not currently eligible unless they also hold citizenship of an EU Member State.

2. Recognised Disability

Applicants must have a recognised disability and must provide acceptable documentary evidence.

The disability may involve a long-term:

• Physical impairment
• Mental impairment
• Intellectual impairment
• Sensory impairment

The impairment must be capable of interacting with different barriers in a way that may hinder the person’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

3. Education Requirement

Applicants to the Positive Action Programme must be at least third-year students at a university or college.

Unlike the Council’s main traineeship programme, which generally requires applicants to have completed a bachelor’s degree, the Positive Action Programme also accepts eligible candidates who are still studying, provided they have reached at least the third year of their university or college education.

4. Language Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate:

• A very good knowledge of English or French, normally at a minimum C1 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• A very good knowledge of at least one additional official language of the European Union

The application form is available in English and French, and applicants must have a thorough knowledge of at least one of these languages to complete the application successfully.

5. Previous EU Institutional Experience

Applicants should not have previously completed more than six weeks of paid or unpaid training or employment at an EU institution, body, agency or office.

Candidates with previous short-term experience lasting no more than six weeks may still qualify, subject to the Council’s applicable traineeship rules.

6. Age Requirement

There is no age limit for applicants. Candidates who meet the citizenship, disability, education, language and previous-experience conditions may apply regardless of age.

Acceptable Proof of Disability

Candidates applying under the Positive Action Programme must provide proof of their recognised disability.

The Council accepts the following forms of evidence:

1. An official document issued by a national or regional authority in an EU Member State
2. A document issued by an accredited organisation or body in an EU Member State
3. A valid European Union disability card
4. A certificate issued by a medical doctor in an EU Member State within the previous six months

Where a medical certificate is submitted, it must clearly identify the condition that the doctor considers to be a disability.

The certificate should also confirm that the condition is a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with different barriers, may hinder the individual’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

How to Apply

The application process for the Positive Action Programme is generally the same as the process used for the Council’s main traineeship programme.

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Create an Online Account

Candidates must create an account on the Council’s official traineeship application system.

The online application form is available in English and French.

Step 2: Complete the Application Form

Applicants will be asked to provide information including:

• Personal and contact details
• Home address
• Educational background
• Training history
• Language abilities
• Digital skills
• Communication skills
• Organisational skills
• Professional experience, where applicable
• Academic theses, articles or publications, where relevant
• Other information supporting the application

Applicants should only provide information that they can later verify through official documents.

Step 3: Select Two Traineeship Domains

Candidates must select two professional or policy domains that best reflect their interests, education, qualifications and experience.

Step 4: Prepare a Motivation Statement

Applicants must provide a separate motivation statement for each selected domain.

Each motivation statement may contain up to 1,000 characters, including spaces. It should clearly demonstrate:

• Why the candidate is interested in the selected domain
• What the candidate knows about the relevant field
• Why the candidate wants to work at the Council
• How the candidate’s academic or professional background relates to the domain
• What skills, experience and perspective the candidate can contribute

Step 5: Submit the Online Application

The completed application must be submitted through the official portal before 15 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Brussels time.

Candidates are advised not to wait until the final day because the application system may receive a high volume of submissions close to the deadline.

Step 6: Submit Proof of Disability

After completing the online application, candidates must separately send their disability documentation to:

PAPTD@consilium.europa.eu

The documents must be submitted before the online application deadline. Completing the application form without sending the required disability evidence may result in the candidate being considered ineligible for the Positive Action Programme.

Click HERE to apply.

Application Tips

The Council receives several thousand traineeship applications during each application period. Applicants should therefore prepare their submissions carefully.

Candidates should:

• Submit the application well before the deadline
• Choose domains that genuinely correspond with their background
• Write a separate and specific motivation for each domain
• Demonstrate knowledge of the chosen policy or professional area
• Explain their interest in the European Union and the Council’s work
• Use clear and well-organised language
• Avoid generic motivational statements
• Ensure all information can be supported by documentary evidence
• Check the application for errors before submission
• Monitor their email and spam folder after applying
• Keep their contact details and home address updated
• Send disability evidence before the deadline

Applicants who require special arrangements during the application or selection process because of a disability may contact the Council’s Traineeships Office.

Selection Process

The selection procedure consists of several stages.

Initial Eligibility Review

After the deadline, the Traineeships Office reviews applications to determine whether candidates meet the eligibility requirements.

Application Assessment and Shortlisting

Eligible applications are compared against the profiles and requirements of the different departments within the General Secretariat of the Council.

Selection is based on merit and on the information provided in the application form.

Interview

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an online or telephone interview.

For traineeships beginning in February, shortlisted candidates are normally contacted no later than December.

Final Offer

Successful applicants receive an email containing:

• The traineeship offer
• The dates of the traineeship
• The department or team to which they will be assigned
• Instructions regarding supporting documents
• Administrative information concerning their placement

Applicants who are not selected for a February traineeship are normally informed by email by the end of December. Eligible unsuccessful candidates may apply again during a future application period.

Documents Required from Successful Candidates

Candidates who receive a traineeship offer may be required to provide:

• A clear copy of their passport or EU national identity card
• Copies of academic diplomas or official educational certificates
• Evidence of professional experience, where applicable
• Evidence supporting the language abilities stated in the application
• Proof of recognised disability
• Any additional administrative documents requested by the Council

Supporting documents are accepted in the official languages of the European Union. Certified copies are generally not required, although trainees may be asked to present original documents when they arrive.

Why This Programme Is Important

The Positive Action Programme provides more than temporary professional experience. It creates a structured pathway through which persons with disabilities can participate directly in the work of a major European institution.

Selected trainees gain exposure to policymaking, administration, research, communication, law, finance, sustainability, technology and other areas of EU activity. At the same time, personalised workplace accommodations help remove barriers that might otherwise prevent talented candidates from participating fully in an institutional working environment.

The programme is particularly valuable for students and graduates seeking careers in:

• European institutions
• Government and public administration
• International organisations
• Public policy
• Law and governance
• Finance and economics
• Environmental and climate policy
• Human rights
• Disability inclusion
• Communication
• Translation
• Research
• Information technology
• International relations

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by:

15 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Brussels time

The traineeship will run from:

1 February to 30 June 2027

Applicants must complete the online application and submit the required proof of disability before the deadline. Late applications and spontaneous applications are not considered.

Conclusion

The Council of the European Union Positive Action Programme 2027 offers EU nationals with recognised disabilities an exceptional opportunity to obtain paid professional experience within the General Secretariat of the Council in Brussels.

With a five-month placement, financial support, personalised accessibility arrangements and opportunities to contribute to EU policy and administrative work, the programme provides an inclusive route into European public service.

Eligible candidates should carefully review the requirements, select two traineeship domains aligned with their background, prepare strong and specific motivation statements, complete the online application and submit acceptable proof of disability before 15 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Brussels time.

For more global opportunities, click HERE.