Job opportunities at the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST)
The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is the single point of contact for all EU citizens who wish to work for the European Institutions.
Contract agents
There are two types of contract agents:
- contract agents on a contract of limited duration (up to a maximum of six years) work at Commission headquarters;
- contract agents on longer-term contracts can work in satellite offices, agencies and eventually in EU delegations.
To work in Commission (Headquarters and Delegations) candidates need to have successfully passed a full CAST competition.
For more information regarding "Who may apply ?" and the generic notice about vacancies, please visit the dedicated section.
Trainees
The European Commission has an official traineeship scheme mainly aimed at young university graduates. For further information, please consult the traineeship web pages.
Seconded national experts (SNE)
SNEs are typically seconded from the civil services of EU Member States. They are usually recruited via their Permanent Representations to the EU.
Please read carefully the eligibility criteria.
Temporary agents
In exceptional circumstances, NEAR may consider engaging temporary agents.
General notice for all vacancies
- Candidates should be aware that they are only eligible for posts which have at least the same function group level as the function group level of the EPSO test they succeeded (e.g. holder of a FGIV CAST are eligible for CA FG IV, III and II) or the function group for which they have registered within the Commission call for expression of interest for contract staff in generalist profiles.
- Candidates who passed an EPSO test which is still valid. Please bear in mind that for EPSO CAST 27, EPSO CAST 2008 and EPSO CAST 2010, only DB3 candidates who also passed the test held in July 2011 are eligible. Candidates who passed CAST Croatia cannot apply for vacant contract agent posts in EU delegation as this CAST competition was not organised in full (DB2 only).
For Contract Agents' vacancies in Headquarters
Who may apply?
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- Posts in Headquarters are covered by 3b contracts. This means that a contract agent working in delegations and covered by 3a contracts selected for a post in Headquarters (outside the annual mobility exercise) will have to resign his/her 3a contract and conclude new 3b contract for maximum 6 years. First contract will be concluded for 1 year. Extension of 2 years will follow provided positive probation period report. Any subsequent extensions will be of 1 year up to a maximum of 6 years in total.
- The selection procedure is organised by NEAR Headquarters (unit to which the post is attached).
For Contract Agents' vacancies in Delegations
Who may apply?
- Contract agents who have served in the same job in the same delegation for at least 3 years or more.
- Contract agents whose request for early mobility on personal grounds outside the annual mobility exercise was accepted by Headquarters. Please note that contract agents included in the mobility exercise for duly substantiated personal reasons are automatically authorised to also apply for vacancies published outside the annual mobility exercise for the same reasons.
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- The selection procedure is organised by each delegation concerned;
- After a pre-selection based on the CVs, the delegation will invite pre-selected candidates to participate in a phone interview panel and will request the recruitment of the selected candidate to ENEST Headquarters for validation.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
| ENTITY | ENEST.R.4.DEL.Turkiye.005, Contracts and Finance ANKARA (Türkiye) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Finance and Contracts Officer - Verification |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 87440 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Ensures, under the authority of the Head of Section, the legality and regularity of transactions in compliance with applicable regulations, procedures, and instructions. Performs ex-ante controls on tender and contract documentation in decentralised management, assessing quality, legality, regularity, and sound financial management. Contributes to the coordination of sector activities and ensures follow-up of files and processes within his/her remit, notably in Direct Management, but also across other management modalities. Carries out duties in line with the job description as assigned by the hierarchy, in accordance with the Staff Regulations. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to delegation-turkiye-contract-agents-applications Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in the subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by the selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 08 June 2026 |
| ENTITY | ENEST.B.4.DEL.Montenegro.002 – Team Cooperation MONTENEGRO (Podgorica) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 467132 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation, to ensure effective and efficient support to implementation of pre-accession assistance to Montenegro, in particular when it comes to investment support and cooperation with international financial institutions, and support to Montenegro's EU membership preparation primarily in the area of energy, and, if so required in other policy areas (e.g. trans-European networks). |
| CONTACT | bernard [dot] brunet Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: delegation-montenegro-hr-recruitment Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 12 June 2026 |
| ENTITY | ENEST.B.4.DEL.Bosnia and Herzegovina.91 – Team Cooperation BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (Sarajevo) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Officer - EU Policies |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | Living-conditions allowance: 20% |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation, ensure effective and efficient programming and implementation of financial assistance for maximum impact in support of the EU membership preparation of the beneficiary countries. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: delegation-bih-recruitment Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 18 June 2026 |
| ENTITY | ENEST.C.2.DEL.Moldova.002 – Team Cooperation MOLDOVA, Chisinau |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 20%) |
| TITLE | Programme Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 467595 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To advise on and manage, under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation and the Team Leader Competitive and Inclusive Growth, the implementation of projects and programmes of development assistance and of financial and technical cooperation. Ensure fulfilment of sector/chapter reporting obligations based on communicated cross-sections responsibilities. Areas covered by the Programme Officer: Confidence Building Measures, Education, Research, Youth, Culture. Occasional other tasks in the interest of service and attributed by the Head of Delegation or the Head of Cooperation, the Team Leader and their substitutes can also be required. |
| CONTACT | julda [dot] kielyte Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 25/06/2026 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.C.1 – Regional Strategy & Investment |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Program Officer – Cross-regional Connectivity Agenda |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 517926 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Unit, to support the implementation of the cross-regional Connectivity Agenda including the operational and financial management of the Connectivity Platform Secretariat. To contribute to policy analysis, support the design of projects under the Connectivity Agenda with a particular focus on transport. To ensure that objectives set in the Agenda are achieved smoothly and the expected outputs are delivered in timely manner. |
| CONTACT | Michael [dot] vogele Please make sure that you send the Application form when applying, as well as mention your CAST candidate number and the post number in subject line. |
| DEADLINE | 15 June 2026 |