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.3.DEL.Tunisia.004: Operations (2) TUNISIA, Tunis |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Officer - Secteurs sociaux, éducation, formation professionnelle, inclusion financière |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 259159 (Living-conditions allowance:15%) |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Sous la supervision du Chef de Section : Gérer la mise en oeuvre des projets et programmes de coopération financière et technique avec la Tunisie dans les domaines de la protection sociale, éducation, formation professionnelle et autonomisation financière des populations vulnérables; Assurer une bonne coordination avec les autorités publiques, les représentants du secteur privé tunisien et les autres bailleurs de fonds actifs dans les domaines de compétence; Contribuer aux analyses et rapports sur la politique de voisinage pour ce qui concerne les domaines d'expertise; Dans l'intérêt du service et à la demande de la hiérarchie, assurer le remplacement de collègues couvant d'autres domaines de responsabilités, en vue de garantir la continuité du service. |
| CONTACT | Marina [dot] MARCHETTI 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 the selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 02/08/2024, 5 pm (Brussels time) |
| ENTITY | NEAR.D.4.DEL.Bosnia and Herzegovina.91 – Team Cooperation BOSNIA ana HERZEGOVINA, Sarajevo |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - Social and Economic development |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453643 (Living-conditions allowance:20%) |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Ensure effective and efficient policy dialogue, programming and implementation of financial assistance in the area of the socio-economic reforms, ensuring maximum impact to support the EU membership preparation of the beneficiary countries, with a particular reference to reforms aimed at boosting economic integration within the Western Balkans through the Common Regional Market, economic integration with the European Union’s Single Market and accelerating accession, improving economic growth and strengthening regional stability. Ensure fulfilment of sector/chapter reporting obligations based on communicated cross-sections responsibilities |
| CONTACT | Stefano [dot] ellero 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 the selected candidate before departure. Please note that this post is financed under the Western Balkans Facility Fund 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 | 06/09/2024 |
| ENTITY | NEAR.D.4.DEL.Bosnia and Herzegovina.91 – Team Cooperation BOSNIA ana HERZEGOVINA, Sarajevo |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - Social and Economic development |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 453644 (Living-conditions allowance:20%) |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To provide operational support in the implementation and monitoring of the Growth and Resilience Facility for the Western Balkans in BiH. Tasks may also include design of capacity building support, reviewing public policies and action plans, as well as indicators. This can include support to public finance management, domestic revenue mobilization, debt management, budget transparency and statistics. The task involves policy dialogue with the authorities and with other partners (development partners, civil society organisations, Member States and International organisations), under the direct responsibility of the Head of Cooperation. |
| CONTACT | Stefano [dot] ellero 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 the selected candidate before departure. Please note that this post is financed under the Western Balkans Facility Fund 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 | 06/09/2024 |
| 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.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.D.2 Montenegro, Serbia |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 449070 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to take forward the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for Montenegro and Serbia, including through the coordination of policy dialogue and of monitoring and assessment of progress in the fulfilment of the qualitative and quantitative steps set out in the partner countries’ Reform Agendas, as well as coordination of the related decision making and financial workflows. To contribute towards the definition, promotion and implementation of EU policies concerning Montenegro, in particular related to the internal market |
| CONTACT | Cindy [dot] Van-Den-Boogert (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 29 July 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.2 Thematic Support - Rule of Law, Governance and Security |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 427278 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute to the work of the Human Rights and Civil Society Team by elaborating strategic guidance documents, providing thematic expertise on civil society and selected human rights issues. Support design and implementation of policy and programmes in the field of civil society and human rights in the Neighbourhood and Enlargement countries. Coordinate the implementation in NEAR of the Thematic Programme on Civil Society under NDICI. Coordinate the NEAR share of the “Knowledge Hub for expertise on Gender equality, Disability and Human Rights Based Approach”. Act as a back¬up to other team members as necessary. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to Allan [dot] Jones (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 2 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.5 IFIs and Investments: Blended Finance and EU Guarantees |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Manager - Risk Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 450197 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute with risk analysis, credit risk modelling and monitoring to the design and implementation of EU budgetary guarantees, in particular the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) guarantee, the External Lending Mandate (ELM), the External Action Guarantee (EAG) and the Ukraine Guarantee established under the Ukraine Facility regulation, as well as relevant financial instruments under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus. |
| 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 | 2 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C.2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Administrative Assistant - to the Head of Unit, Deputy Head of Unit and the team |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 192512 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Provide administrative secretarial support and document management services to the Head of Unit, Deputy Head of Unit and the rest of the team. |
| CONTACT | %20David [dot] cullen 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 | 2 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C.2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | International Aid / Cooperation Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 448214 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To advise on and manage, under the supervision of the Head of Sector/Team leader, the implementation of bilateral assistance programmes and projects in areas falling under the responsibility of the Operations' sector managing the assistance to the people of Belarus and Russian civil society. To contribute to the programming, identification and formulation of new assistance programmes in the respective area of responsibility. To ensure close cooperation with relevant geo and regional Eastern Partnership coordinators from other teams of the same unit, other services, other DGs and the EEAS. To liaise with sector stakeholders in the respective area of responsibility. To support the Head of Sector/Team leader in coordinating operations and horizontal files. To ensure timely and good quality contributions to briefs, reports, replies to internal and external requests related to the assigned area of responsibility. |
| CONTACT | %20David [dot] cullen 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 | 2 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.D.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - European Integration - Economic and trade desk |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 423511 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official or a temporary agent, contribute to the definition, coordination and implementation of EU policies concerning Kosovo, with a particular focus on the economic criteria, strengthening Kosovo’s economic and trade development and alignment with the EU acquis and obligations under the SAA and Economic Reform Programmes. Contribute towards the definition, coordination and implementation of EU policies on Chapter 4 (free movement of capital) for all candidate countries and potential candidates, and across DG NEAR when necessary, in close cooperation with the relevant Commission services. Coordination, for NEAR D4, of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and contact point for digital transition under the Economic and Investment Plan. Responsibility for chapters 4 (free movement of capital), 9 (financial services), 16 (taxation), 17 (economic and monetary policy), 18 (statistics), 20 (enterprise and industrial policy), 29 (customs union), 30 (external relations) for Kosovo and back up for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for internal market. |
| CONTACT | Barbara [dot] JESUS-GIMENO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-D4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 2 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.D.4 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Policy Assistant - Rule of Law – Chapter 23 - Kosovo |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 339537 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, contribute to the definition, coordination and implementation of EU policies concerning Kosovo, with a particular focus on rule of law, especially human rights and fundamental freedoms and judiciary (chapter 23 judiciary and fundamental rights) and alignment with the EU acquis and obligations under the SAA, and other chapters as required by the Head of Unit. Backup for Chapter 24 (home affairs) |
| CONTACT | Barbara [dot] JESUS-GIMENO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-D4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 2 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.R.4 Contracts and Finance Neighbourhood |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Finance and Contracts Assistant - Financial Initiating Agent (FIA) |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 337499 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to assist in the implementation and control of financial transactions and contractual aspects of programmes and projects related within the portfolio managed by DG NEAR's Directorate R, Unit R.4 “Contracts and Finance Neighbourhood”. |
| CONTACT | Bernard [dot] SAN-EMETERIO-CORDERO Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-R4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 5 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.R.1 Resource Planning and IT |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Document Management Agent - Records Management |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 420477 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To manage the receipt, assignment, registration, distribution, filing and archiving of DG NEAR document workflow. |
| CONTACT | Laura-Francisca [dot] URENA-BOSCH1 Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-R1 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 5 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.5 IFIs and Investments: Blended Finance and EU Guarantees |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Programme Assistant – Risk Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 374647 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute to the design and implementation of budgetary guarantees and financial instruments financed from the EU budget, including those contributing to Global Gateway, in particular the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) as well as the EFSD+ and the new Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF) guarantees. Ensure effective risk management for the implementation of the EFSD+ and the UIF guarantees, with special emphasis on the quantitative and credit risk related aspects of guarantee instruments and investment programmes in INTPA and NEAR regions. |
| 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 | 6 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.D.1 Western Balkans Policy & Regional Strategy |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Manager - Rule of Law Policy for Western Balkan countries |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 375714 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Planning, formulating and implementing Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Multi-country programmes on Rule of Law, Security, Migration and Reconciliation, primarily in the areas Rule of Law and policy formulation in support of EU enlargement policy for the Western Balkans. |
| CONTACT | michael [dot] docherty Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-D1 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 7 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C.1 Georgia, Moldova, Economic Investment Plan |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer – Moldova & Georgia |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 450551 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To contribute to the definition and implementation of EU policies concerning relations with Moldova and Georgia, with a focus on political reforms and the rule of law. |
| CONTACT | Diana [dot] JABLONSKA Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to near-c1 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 21 August 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.3 Thematic Support – An economy that works for people, green, digital and connected |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Administrative Agent |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 448268 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Provide administrative secretarial support, document management services and human resources support to the Unit and to the Directorate as needed. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to NEAR-A (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 3 September 2024 |
| ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.2 Thematic Support - Rule of Law, Governance and Security |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 375562 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official and the team leader, contribute to the work of the unit on security issues including organised crime, counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation (including EMPACT), and ensure coherence of anti-money laundering / anti-corruption / integrity policy linked to increased investments / assistance in the neighbourhood and enlargement countries. |
| CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to Allan [dot] Jones (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 9 September 2024 |
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- 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.