Secretariat of the Committee on International Trade - Post A

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

The Secretariat of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) is part of the Committees Directorate of the Directorate-General for External Policies (DG EXPO). Our role as Secretariat is to support the INTA committee and its Members in their daily work, in shaping European legislation and scrutinising international trade negotiations and agreements.

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Want to find out more about what being a trainee in DG EXPO is like? Check out our DG EXPO podcast for trainees, by trainees: CLICK HERE.

As a trainee of the INTA Secretariat, you will gain concrete understanding of the European Parliament’s processes and first-hand experience of how Members influence and shape European trade policy at a time when international trade is increasingly topical and contested.

Under the guidance of your supervisor, you will

• Participate in the daily work of the Committee Secretariat, gaining insights into the variety of tasks performed by a Parliamentary Committee Secretariat;
• Interact with other relevant Parliamentary services and European Institutions, broadening your professional network;
• Contribute to the preparation and organisation of the INTA Committee's activities, including meetings, hearings, workshops, political negotiations and delegation visits;
• Assist the Secretariat with drafting of legislative and non-legislative texts, including reports and opinions, monitoring of trade negotiations and implementation of agreements in force as well as work related to the parliamentary dimension of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

• Preferably a Master graduate in the field of law, economics, political science or international relations, with strong research and drafting skills;
• Familiar with the policy making structures of the European Union;
• Interested in trade and investment policy and ideally have some first experiences in this policy area;
• A team player, eager to learn, pro-active, autonomous, able to deal with the complexity of a multi-cultural and political environment, and to work with tight deadlines whilst prioritising and delivering quality products;
• Fluent in English and possibly other EU languages (French is considered an asset);
• Equipped with a solid understanding and eagerness to gain practical knowledge of the EU, its institutions, decision-making processes and EU trade and investment policy;
• You have obtained/will obtain a university degree (level 6 of EQF or higher) at least three months before the starting date of the traineeship.

The European Parliament is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome all candidates, regardless of their geographical, racial or ethnic origin, political or religious beliefs, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, civil status, or family situation.