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
| ENTITY | ENEST.D.DEL.Ukraine – Team Cooperation UKRAINE, Kyiv |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 40%, in case of assignment to Kyiv, Ukraine) |
| TITLE | Programme Officer – Coordination and policy support |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 455052 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To carry out coordination and policy support tasks under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation and in close collaboration with the Head of Delegation Please note that this post is financed under the Ukraine Facility funds and limited in time (no indefinite contract can be granted). The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2027 (initial contract and one possible renewal where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-UKRAINE-JOBS 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. Kyiv is the formal place of assignment and in principle the jobholder will be located there. However, as the EUD Delegation to Ukraine is still currently under evacuation level 3, with a limited number of expatriate staff authorised in the delegation at any one time, a rotating system may be put in place for a certain period. The evacuation level is reassessed on regular basis, so the candidate must commit to be posted in Kyiv anytime. |
| DEADLINE | 15 June 2025 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | Brussels – ENEST. B2 (Serbia Kosovo) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - research, innovation, HR, information society, social |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 487969 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To advise and support, under the supervision on an official, to the definition, promotion and implementation of EU policies towards Serbia and Kosovo including in terms of their EU integration process and the implementation of their reform agendas. To follow issues related to research, innovation, HR, information society, social policy in Kosovo. To possibly cover a DG-wide Chapter desk or co-desk. |
| CONTACT | Mr CRAMPES Julien (Julien [dot] CRAMPES Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-B2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 20 June 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST. Unit A.5, Institution Building ,TAIEX, Twinning |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 61510 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Organises TAIEX institution capacity building assistance for beneficiaries in the area of Justice and Home Affairs, Rule of Law, Resilience, Migration and Security TAIEX Team. Can be called to lead Chapter Desk and Country Coordinator tasks (as required) in support of DG ENEST priorities, notably: accelerating integration, fostering collaborative reforms and enhancing public sector excellence through peer collaboration with DG ENEST partner countries and other DGs as stated in relevant Service Level Agreements. |
| CONTACT | Mr. LOPEZ-MENCHERO Francisco (Francisco [dot] LOPEZ-MENCHERO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-A5 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 26 June 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.R.2 – Legal, Transparency, Security |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Legal Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 173947 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to provide legal advice and support. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-R2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 26 June 2025 |