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.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
| ENTITY | NEAR.B.1.DEL.Lebanon.003 – Team Cooperation LEBANON, Beirut – Currently under evacuation in Brussels. The evacuation is declared until 15/09/2024 but can be reassessed. Temporarily 'no children' posting. |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 194724 (Living-conditions allowance:30% - in case of assignment to Beirut, LEBANON) |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation and the Team Leader, the job holder will be responsible for programme/project implementation and policy dialogue in the sector of education (primary and secondary), and more broadly in the domain of social sectors, in close cooperation with other colleagues in the section. The jobholder will be available to support the EU Delegation team and HQ with ongoing analysis of relevant sector policies and where appropriate, participate in the identification/preparation of further actions in the country. The jobholder will analyze, support negotiation, modify and / or prepare for approval proposals for programmes/projects on the basis of the priorities defined in the strategy documents and the multi-annual programming. Specific project management tasks include support, advice and managing (including monitoring, reporting and evaluation) the implementation of the programmes/project in the above-mentioned sectors. |
| CONTACT | alessandra [dot] viezzer Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. The security situation in the country remains very volatile and could lead to the evacuation of non-essential staff and all under-age dependents from the place of assignment. |
| DEADLINE | 13/09/2024 |
| ENTITY | NEAR.D.2.DEL.Montenegro.002 – Team Cooperation MONTENEGRO, Podgorica |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV Living-conditions allowance: 15% |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - EU integration - Growth |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453648 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to ensure an effective and efficient support related to the implementation, monitoring and reporting on the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (Montenegro), including an overall sector responsibility for digital transformation of the economy and policies in particular in relation to reforms foreseen under the Reform Agenda under the Reform and Growth Facility, and to monitor and report on these areas in Montenegro's EU membership preparation as well as for technical and operational aspects. |
| CONTACT | yngve [dot] engstroem Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: delegation-montenegro-hoa-ac-recruitment 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. Please note that this post is financed under the Western Balkans Facility 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. |
| DEADLINE | 15/09/2024 |
| ENTITY | NEAR.D.2.DEL.Montenegro.002 – Team Cooperation MONTENEGRO, Podgorica |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV Living-conditions allowance: 15% |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - EU integration - Growth |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453646 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to ensure an effective and efficient support related to the implementation, monitoring and reporting on the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (Montenegro), in particular in relation to economic integration with the European Union’s Single Market, economic integration within the Western Balkans through the Common Regional Market and accelerating accession. Ensure support to related reforms foreseen under the Reform Agenda under the Reform and Growth Facility, and to monitor and report on these areas in Montenegro's EU membership preparation. |
| CONTACT | yngve [dot] engstroem Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: delegation-montenegro-hoa-ac-recruitment 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. Please note that this post is financed under the Western Balkans Facility 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. |
| DEADLINE | 15/09/2024 |
| ENTITY | NEAR.B.3.DEL.Libya.002 - Cooperation TRIPOLI (Libya) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 40%) |
| TITLE | Programme Officer - Civil society, youth, culture and Health |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 440603 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To advise on and manage under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation the implementation of projects and programmes of bilateral cooperation mainly in the field of support to civil society, youth, culture and health (including aspects related to peace consolidation), as well as to assist the Head of Cooperation in horizontal tasks. |
| CONTACT | marton [dot] benedek Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-LIBYA-RECRUITMENT 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 | 18/09/2024 |
| ENTITY | NEAR.B.1.DEL.Syria.003 – Team Cooperation LEBANON, Beirut – Currently under evacuation in Brussels. The evacuation is declared until 15/09/2024 but can be reassessed. Temporarily 'no children' posting. |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV Living-conditions allowance: (30% - in case of assignment to Beirut, LEBANON) |
| TITLE | Programme Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 260154 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Section: The Programme Officer will contribute to the definition and implementation of EU-funded non-humanitarian assistance managed by the Operations Section of the EU Delegation to Syria. The portfolio of the incumbent shall cover in particular the sectors of education, child protection and assistance to Palestine refugees. The main emphasis of the job is therefore to support the strengthening of those sectors, by ensuring more sustainable responses to immediate and protracted needs, inadequate essential services, and collapsing infrastructure across Syria. The incumbent may also be expected to contribute to multi-sectoral early recovery programmes (e.g. in the form of area-based programme). The sectors covered by the job may however evolve and flexibility is important, in particular with a view to replacing absent colleagues and/or supporting the section and Delegation on emerging priorities. 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 to Syria to the evolution of the conflict in line with EU Strategy for Syria and the EU parameters for engagement. |
| CONTACT | Xavier [dot] CAMUS Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: : NEAR-B1 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 | 20/09/2024 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.B3 North Africa |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Administrative Agent |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 454967 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Provide administrative secretarial support, the application of internal procedures, communication actions, management of information and documents and organisation of meetings and missions to the Unit and Directorate as needed. |
| CONTACT | Francisco [dot] GAZTELU-MEZQUIRIZ Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-B (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 23 September 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | International Aid / Cooperation Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 296413 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To support the implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in Armenia/Azerbaijan. To contribute to the multi-annual and annual programming under ENI/NDICI and its implementation, including via the mobilisation of the EFSD+. To monitor the developments in the two countries, including in relation to the peace process. |
| CONTACT | CULLEN David, Head of Unit Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-C2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 24 September 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Policy Assistant |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 271634 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To contribute to the horizontal coordination and policy analysis related to the Eastern Neighbourhood, including the Eastern Partnership, and the monitoring of its implementation. Responsibilities include the preparation and participation to events under the EaP framework, the preparation of lines to take and briefings, as well as the coordination of horizontal inputs to briefings, inter-institutional reports - in close cooperation with country and sector policy teams in the directorate, the EEAS, EU Delegations and other commission services. Upon request of the Head of Unit, the policy assistant may also work on other files if so required. |
| CONTACT | CULLEN David, Head of Unit Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-C2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 24 September 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | International Aid / Cooperation Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 249940 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To support the implementation of reforms in the area of good governance, rule of law, democratisation, and security and support confidence building measures and reconciliation in the Eastern Neighbourhood. Design, formulate and ensure the implementation of regional, bilateral or thematic projects in the areas of good governance and security, under the supervision of an official. |
| CONTACT | CULLEN David, Head of Unit Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-C2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 8 October 2024 |
- 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.