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.
- 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).
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).
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
There are no job openings at the moment.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.A.4 – IFIs and Investments |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Programme assistant – External Relations |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 504861 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Support the design and implementation of the NIP blending mechanism and facilitate relations with IFIs, under the supervision of an official. Manage the database and produce regular updates on the table monitoring the Economic and Investment Plans. Support the management of budgetary guarantees – in particular handling of guarantee calls, recoveries and commitments/payments to the Common Provisioning Fund. |
| CONTACT | Barbara [dot] BANKI Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to enest-a4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 15 January 2026 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.D.2 - Economic and Sectoral Policies (Ukraine Service) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 443838 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To contribute to the successful implementation of the financial support provided to Ukraine for the delivery of reforms and investments under implement the Ukraine Plan (Pillar I of the Ukraine Facility). Carry out sectoral and economic analyses to inform the Commission's support for Ukraine’s reform efforts and EU integration process. To maintain close coordination within the Commission as well as with the EEAS, the Delegation of the EU to Ukraine, the Ukrainian authorities and other partners including international financial institutions. |
| CONTACT | Benoit [dot] MESNARD Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to ENEST-D2-RECRUITMENT-EXTERNAL-STAFF (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 20 January 2026 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.B.1 - Regional Strategy & Investments |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Manager - Private Sector Development and Guarantees |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 469302 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | The Western Balkans Regional Strategy & Investments Unit develops the regional dimension of DG ENEST’s engagement in the Western Balkans, in particular regarding the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) and the Growth Plan, both under the umbrella of the Global Gateway, and using the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) and the new Reform and Growth Facility (RGF). The Unit manages the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF), a key instrument to deliver on flagship investments using both the RGF and IPA funding to support the public and private sectors, in cooperation with international financial institutions (IFIs) and bilateral donors. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of programmes and projects funded under the WBIF in support of private sector development and investments. He/she will contribute to design, negotiate, and manage projects and contracts in this field in cooperation with DG ENEST’s thematic and geographical units, EU Delegations, and other relevant stakeholders, including International Financial Institutions and local banks in the Western Balkans, and relevant Commission Directorate Generals. Moreover, the candidate will contribute to DG ENEST’s efforts to streamline private sector support instruments. In addition, the successful candidate will participate in DG ENEST’s efforts to increase dialogue and cooperation with private sector stakeholders, notably in view of identifying investments that support the region’s accession process and reform implementation. |
| CONTACT | Christophe [dot] GALAND Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to ENEST-B1 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 21 January 2026 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.R.4 – Finance and Contracts |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Finance and Contracts Officer - Verification |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 351991 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To perform financial and contractual management of projects and contracts in compliance with the applicable rules and to provide support and advice to operational colleagues on financial & contractual issues, under the supervision of an official. |
| CONTACT | Bernard [dot] SAN-EMETERIO-CORDERO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to ENEST-R4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 27 January 2026 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.R.4 – Finance and Contracts |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Finance and Contracts Assistant - Financial Initiating Agent (FIA) |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 504287 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, as part of the HUB’s responsibilities, to assist with the implementation and monitoring of financial transactions and the contractual aspects of programmes and projects related to the Western Balkans delegations, and to ensure the legality and regularity of all transactions managed by those delegations. |
| CONTACT | Bernard [dot] SAN-EMETERIO-CORDERO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to ENEST-R4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 27 January 2026 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.A.1 – Enlargement Strategy & Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Policy Assistant - Public Finance Management |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 292830 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, coordinate policy on public finance management and provide thematic guidance to relevant stakeholders. Quality control of annual and multiannual IPA/NDICI actions and programmes; support to PFM country analysis, policy dialogue and accession negotiations; management of PFM related strategic partnerships and programmes; coordination of public internal financial control and external audit implementation. Chapter Desk for Financial Control (Chapter 32). |
| CONTACT | Vasyl [dot] Zubaka Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to ENEST-A1 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 29 January 2026 |