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
No available vacancies for the time being.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.B.1: Western Balkans Regional Strategy & Investments |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 375963 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Manage regional programmes (programming, contracting); Contribute to the definition of EU policies in Western Balkans in the area of economic and trade development and provide strategic guidance on policy implementation in the field of trade and trade related matters and investment policy, as well as private sector development. |
| 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 | 27 March 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST. Unit A.5, Institution Building ,TAIEX, Twinning |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | TAIEX Programme Assistant |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 268755 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Organises technical assistance for TAIEX beneficiaries in support of DG ENEST priorities under the supervision of Commission Official or Temporary Agent. |
| CONTACT | Fanny [dot] MARCHAL 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 | 31 March 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG ENEST A2 - Strategic Programming and Performance |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Planning and Programming Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 426674 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | The job holder will contribute to all aspects of the unit work programme. This includes contributions to strategy, policy development and implementation in all areas of the unit’s competence, such as the coordination of the development and maintenance of DG ENEST’s financing instruments, both legally and in substance, relevant guidelines and other instruments as well as analysis, development, improvement and implementation of A2 relevant policies and processes linked to the content of our cooperation, programming, results based financing, monitoring and evaluation.Thank you in advance for your cooperation. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-A2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 31 March 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG ENEST A1 – Enlargement Strategy and Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Legal Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 473058 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Legal officer and desk for issues linked to Accession Treaties and legal aspects of EU enlargement, including coordination within DG ENEST, engagement with other Commission services and relations with the Council. Provision of legal drafting and legal analysis on Accession Treaties and other legal aspects of the accession process. |
| CONTACT | 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 | 31 March 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG ENEST R3 – Audit and Internal Control |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Internal Control Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 313847 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To contribute to the implementation of the internal control framework and risk management related processes for the DG. |
| CONTACT | Aurora [dot] PALKO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-R3 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 02 April 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.B.3: Albania, North Macedonia |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Secretary - to the Unit |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 375993 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Perform a variety of general secretarial tasks and assume administrative responsibilities in order to keep an office running smoothly. |
| CONTACT | Sigrid [dot] BRETTEL Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-B3 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 03 April 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.B.1.004: Western Balkans Regional Strategy & Investments |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Manager - Civil Society Facility |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 469296 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, engage with civil society organisations in the Western Balkans so that they can have an active role in the enlargement process, including policy and reforms priorities. Plan, formulate and implement actions through the Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), coordinate the Civil Society Facility in close collaboration with the EU Delegations and main stakeholders at EU and country-level. |
| CONTACT | 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 | 07 April 2025 |