Job opportunities at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)
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 NEAR Headquarters for validation.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
| ENTITY | MOROCCO, Rabat NEAR.B.3. DEL Morocco – Team Cooperation |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 15%) |
| TITLE | Gestionnaire de programmes et projets – Migration |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 461747 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the authority of the Head of Cooperation, the supervision of the Head of section OPT 1, and in close coordination with the relevant manager at Headquarters, contribute to the management of the migration related programmes in Morocco. |
| CONTACT | Applications: CV and motivation letter to be sent to: Hanane [dot] EL-AYACHI 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 selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 29 January 2025 |
| ENTITY | AMMAN (Jordan) NEAR.B.1.DEL.Jordan.002: Cooperation As per Commission Decision, DG NEAR will be split as from 1st of February 2025. This post will be part of the future “DG for the Middle East, North Africa, Gulf (DG MENA)”. The job description and content shall not be affected by this change. |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 15%) |
| TITLE | Programme Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 464269 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under supervision of the Head of Cooperation/Head of Section Operations 2, contribute to the management of programmes related to skills development and employability as well as technical and vocational education and training. The incumbent will liaise on the nexus employability/social protection as well as contribute to policy dialogues and programme management related to strengthening the economic self-reliance of refugees and other vulnerable groups. S/he will provide monitoring, coordination, analysis and reporting on relevant actions in Jordan. The jobholder will contribute to tasks related to communication and visibility of EU programmes in Jordan and in close coordination with the Cooperation Communication team. In addition, the jobholder may also be requested to contribute to briefings, reporting and to the management of projects. In the areas of her/his responsibility, s/he will also be asked to provide analytical inputs on a regular basis for the EU to better align its assistance in line with EU Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership for Jordan. The sectors covered by the job may however evolve and flexibility is important. The jobholder will work in close collaboration with other programme managers in the Delegation. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-JORDAN-VACANCY 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 | 2 February 2025 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.D5 Western Balkans Regional Programmes, Economic Investment Plan |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Manager Environment and climate (Western Balkans Investment Framework) |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 465962 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, support the unit in all tasks related to the implementation of programmes and projects in the field of climate and environment. Most of the programmes and projects will be part of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). |
| CONTACT | holger [dot] schroeder Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to near-d5 Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line. |
| DEADLINE | 22 January 2025 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A5 NEAR.A.5 - IFIs and Investments: Blended Finance and EU Guarantees |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Officer - Investment Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 275702 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | The overall purpose of this position is to steer – under the supervision of the Team Leader/Head of Sector – the efficient use of financial instruments (in particular guarantees) and blending, and to ensure that these instruments are used in line with the strategic priorities of DG NEAR. To this end, the jobholder will have to maintain close cooperation and coordination with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) throughout the origination and development of investment projects. These tools will be instrumental in implementing the Economic and Investment Plans (EIPs) for NEAR regions, the Global Gateway Strategy and the dedicated agreements/partnerships/reform agendas put in place with individual countries which all aim to stimulate jobs and growth, support connectivity and the green and digital transition through (increased) investments in our partner countries. |
| CONTACT | Barbara [dot] BANKI Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-A5 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 23 January 2025 |