Europe Unit: Enlargement, Western Europe and Northern Cooperation - Post B: primary focus on Serbia and Montenegro

The Directorate-General for External Policies is divided in four directorates: Committees, Regions (covering inter-parliamentary delegations), Democracy Support and Resources.

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 the European External Action Service (EEAS), and support for parliamentary democracy and parliamentary diplomacy. Most of the work takes place in Brussels.

The Unit ‘Europe: Enlargement, Western Europe and Northern Cooperation’ (internal abbreviation NEWE) serves as the secretariat of European Parliament delegations which maintain relations with the parliaments of seven ‘enlargement’ countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Türkiye) and of the EEA/EFTA States (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). The Unit is also responsible for EU relations with the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the EP's involvement in multilateral parliamentary forums of the North (Arctic, Nordic, Baltic, Barents). Five desk officers liaise with their counterparts in the partner parliaments to ensure the smooth organisation of all delegation meetings that fall within the remit of the Unit.

(Note: Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, which also have candidate country status, are not covered by NEWE).

You will be involved in following and reviewing developments in the EU’s and the EP’s bilateral relations with the countries and/or regions covered by the unit, with a focus on Serbia and Montenegro and overarching regional issues. Your tasks will also include research for and partial drafting of tailor-made briefings, reports, minutes and notes for different clients within the European Parliament (mainly Delegations that fall within the remit of the unit, but also DG EXPO Committees and the Cabinet of the President). Physical and online attendance of and reporting on internal EP meetings (in both Brussels and Strasbourg) or other meetings or conferences outside the EP that are relevant to the activities of the unit will also be part of your duties. The traineeship further involves work related to the organisational / logistical modalities for the smooth running of remote / hybrid / physical meetings of delegations.

You will also be expected to contribute to preparatory work for the initial activities of the newly constituted Delegations for relations with Serbia and Montenegro following the European elections of 2024, as well as for the parliamentary hearings of commissioners-designate that are relevant to the activities of the Unit.

When appropriate, you will (on the basis of ad hoc agreements between your NEWE supervisor and supervisors in other relevant DG EXPO services) be invited to work jointly with other DG EXPO trainees on specific enlargement related projects.

As an applicant for a traineeship in the NEWE unit, you have fundamental credentials (education, previous professional experience, linguistic skills...) that are solid and relevant for the specific tasks to be performed. Knowledge of official languages of the enlargement countries will be taken into account. Previous demonstrable working experience in the region and/or on the topic of enlargement can be considered an asset but is not a precondition.

Your successful integration in the unit requires that you have strong communication skills, that you are sufficiently flexible to manage urgent requests and at times challenging deadlines, that you can effectively combine a keen interest in enlargement issues with an objective, fact-based approach to your tasks and that you possess a highly developed sense of responsibility, discretion and diplomacy given the confidential nature of some of the tasks. A creative mindset and proactive attitude as well as the overall ability to think out of the box will be particularly appreciated. Very good knowledge of and sound drafting skills in English are of key importance. A sound knowledge of other EU working languages and experience with the organisation of (in-person / hybrid) meetings will be welcomed.

An important element of your application dossier is your personal motivation letter, which provides you with a unique opportunity to convince us why you are the most suitable candidate for this traineeship.