No. There is no age limit for participating in the traineeships programme.

You can prove your proficiency in a language by one of the following means

• language certificates clearly indicating the level issued by
  • language centres such as the Instituto Cervantes, Alliance française, Goethe Institut, etc.
  • language schools recognised by the State issuing certified certificates
• language courses at university clearly indicating the level
• university courses: BA or MA taught entirely in the declared language (this must be clear from the transcripts: the language of instruction must be given and the examination must be taken in said language)
• proof of bilingual education at secondary school level such as European schools, International schools, etc.

A certificate of attendance at the course is not sufficient.

Recommendation letters from professors/employers are not accepted as proof of the declared language knowledge. Mother tongue is also considered a ‘very good knowledge’, and no proof is required (nor points attributed, though).

All candidates must declare 1 mother tongue; no points are awarded for mother tongue and therefore no proof is required. You can declare up to 3 mother tongues. If you have more than 1 mother tongue and wish to receive points for them, you can declare these under “Other languages” as long as you can provide written documented proof.

Copy of a valid passport or identity card proving the declared nationality in your application form

Copies of all university diplomas you have declared to hold in your application, together with the corresponding university transcripts (i.e. the list of subjects that you have studied each year with the respective marks/grades per subject) or the Europass Diploma Supplement. Please ensure that the date of the awarded degree and the final mark are specified

Copies of proof of enrolment in ongoing studies, if applicable

Documented written proof of certificates (or equivalent), as indicated in your application form, for short-term studies and/or seminars attended, as well as certificates of university exchange programmes abroad, if applicable

Documented written proof of declared language skills, indicating the level obtained. Accepted written proof includes

Language certificates clearly indicating the level issued by

• language centres such as the Instituto Cervantes, Alliance Française, Goethe Institut, etc…
• language schools recognised by the State issuing certified certificates.
• language courses at university clearly indicating the level.
• university courses: BA or MA taught entirely in the declared language (this must be clear from the transcripts: the language of instruction must be given and the examination must be taken in said language)
• proof of bilingual education at secondary school level such as European schools, International schools, etc.

A certificate of attendance at the course is not sufficient.

Please note that a very good knowledge of at least one working language of the Commission – English, French, German – is required; the Commission considers that a C level corresponds to a very good knowledge.

Copies of proof of all declared working experience. This can be provided by means of the following

• a letter of reference by your employer, with heading, duly signed and dated and clearly mentioning the work period (letters on plain paper are not accepted as proof)
• copies of contracts clearing mentioning the work period
• pay slips clearing mentioning the work period

E-mails are not accepted as proof. Grouping education or training with work experience is not admitted. For digital skills and organisational skills, no proof is required.

Yes. You can apply as often as you want.

Yes, you can apply for all of them. But if you then decide to do a traineeship of more than 42 calendar days in any other European institution, European Union (EU) body, EU Agency, EU delegations or working for Members of Parliament (MEPs) or Advocates General at the EU Court of Justice (EUCJ), you will no longer be eligible for the European Commission Blue Book traineeship programme.