Latin America Unit - Post B

The Directorate-General for External Policies (DG EXPO) is made up of four directorates: Committees, Regions (covering interparliamentary delegations), Resources and Democracy Support.  Staff of DG EXPO form a European team of advisers supporting the European Parliament's President and political bodies in their work on the EU's external policies. Colleagues in DG EXPO provide advice on matters of substance and procedure, liaise with other EU institutions and manage resources. The focus is on legislation, parliamentary oversight of the European Commission and EEAS, and support for parliamentary democracy. Most of the work is done in Brussels.

We are looking for two professional and motivated individuals to join our Unit for a stimulating traineeship focused on Latin America. The successful candidates will work closely with the different members of the Unit, but reporting directly to a supervisor.

The Latin America Unit assists the EP's seven delegations for relations with Latin America. The delegations include three focusing on a single country (Brazil, Chile and Mexico) and three working with regions or regional groups: the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru), Central America (Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) and Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela). The seventh delegation is devoted to Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat).

Since 2006, EuroLat has been the parliamentary institution of the Bi-regional Strategic Partnership between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. It debates and adopts resolutions and recommendations on all issues relating to the partnership. It has 150 members, 75 from the EP and 75 from Latin America (representing the Latin American Parliament, the Andean Parliament, the Central American Parliament, the Mercosur Parliament and the national congresses of Chile and Mexico).  

The Unit prepares and organizes the delegations' meetings and visits to the region and, together with our Latin American counterparts, the work of EuroLat. The Unit is responsible for producing notes, briefings, studies and other kind of documents for the delegations and their chairpersons and also provides the EP president, the Committees and other political bodies with research, analysis and policy advice.

• Providing support to the preparation of the meetings of the seven delegations focused on Latin America and their visits to the region;
• Contributing to the work of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), including support to the preparation of meetings and contribution to working documents, draft reports/opinions, minutes and voting lists;
• Following and reporting on Latin America-related activities in the EP's other political bodies (plenary, committees);
• Participating in the organisation of special events (hearings and/or workshops);
• Carrying out research and analysis, writing contributions to notes and briefings, covering a broad range of thematic areas in relation to Latin America (political developments, economy and trade, human rights, foreign policies, regional integration, etc.).

• University education level diploma, preferably a Master's degree;
• Proven interest in Latin American affairs and EU foreign policy and external relations;
• Excellent writing and communication skills, especially in Spanish and English. Fluency in Spanish is essential and a particularly high level in English would be an asset; Knowledge of other EuroLat Assembly languages (/FR/DE/PT/IT) would be an asset.
• Strong research and analytic skills;
• Ability to work independently, but also as part of a team, and to meet short deadlines. Reliability and attention to detail;
• Dynamic, flexible, open-minded, strong team player, resistant to stressful situations;
• Positive and innovative mind-set, 'can do attitude'.