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 | Kosovo (Pristina) NEAR.D.4.DEL.Kosovo.001.95 – operation section |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 20%) |
TITLE | Policy Officer - Internal Market/Trade |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 220894 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Section, Monitor and report on the political, legal and socioeconomic situation in Kosovo, in particular as regards Environment and circular economy, health, the Internal Market and Trade-related issues. Contribute to policy development and provide policy guidance to relevant stakeholders in the areas of responsibility. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-KOSOVO-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu and Ms. Anna Carin PLATON (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 August 2022 |

ENTITY | ALBANIA, Tirana NEAR.D.3.DEL.Albania.002 – Team Cooperation |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 20%) |
TITLE | Programme Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 38448 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Section and the Head of Cooperation, ensure sector monitoring and fulfilment of sector/ chapter reporting obligations, as well as effective and efficient programming and implementation of financial assistance in the fields assigned to him/her by the Head of Section, allowing maximum impact to support the EU membership preparation of the beneficiary country, with a particular focus on Public Administration Reform, Programming Coordination, Support to EU Integration and Budget Support. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to:Delegation-Albania-Jobs@eeas.europa.eu (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 | 4 September 2022 |

ENTITY | BELGRADE (Serbia) DG NEAR, R5, EU Delegation to Serbia, cell 006, Finance, contracts and audit |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 10%) |
TITLE | Finance and contracts officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 99544 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the responsibility of the Head of Section ensure legality and regularity of all transactions in line with the applicable Regulations, Commission procedures and prevailing instructions. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-SERBIA-ADMINISTRATION@eeas.europa.eu. (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 | 5 September 2022 |

ENTITY | AZERBAIJAN (Baku) NEAR.C.2.DEL.Azerbaijan.002 – Team Cooperation |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV (Living-conditions allowance: 25%) |
TITLE | Programme Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 142903 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the head of cooperation to provide support to the design, formulation and implementation of EU cooperation projects and programs in Azerbaijan, including in the area of environment and rural development. Contribute to sectoral policy dialogue, horizontal coordination and the implementation of the Eastern Partnership Economic Investment Plan in Azerbaijan. |
CONTACT | Mr Victor BOJKOV (Head of Sector) (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 | 6 September 2022 |

Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
ENTITY | DG.NEAR.B.2 Regional Cooperation Neighbourhood South, Economic Investment Plan |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Project Manager |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 229922 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, contribute to the identification, formulation, monitoring and evaluation of EU regional programs/projects in the fields of energy(notably renewable energy) and related issues, such as the energy-water-food nexus in the Southern Neighbourhood partner countries covered by the Unit. Policy dialogue in the context of the Union for the Mediterranean as well as contribution to EU cooperation policies in these fields could be required as well. The task is conducted in close coordination with other members of the team, therefore excellent teamwork attitudes are required. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-B2@ec.europa.eu with copy to: Mr Stefano Dotto (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 19 August 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.R.4 Contracts and Finance Neighbourhood |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Finance and Contracts Assistant - Initiating Agent for EU Trust Funds and Migration Unit |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 337499 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Assist in the implementation and control of financial transactions and contractual aspects of programmes and projects, under the supervision of an official. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-R4@ec.europa.eu (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). Please note that this post is financed under the EU Trust Fund for Africa and limited in time (no indefinite contract can be granted). The end date of the post is expected to be May 2026, (initial contract and one possible renewal where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 22 August 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.R.4 Contracts and Finance Neighbourhood |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Finance and Contracts Assistant |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 402560 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Assist in the implementation and control of financial transactions and contractual aspects of programmes, projects and transfer agreements, under the supervision of an official. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-R4@ec.europa.eu (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 24 August 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.R.4 Contracts and Finance Neighbourhood |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 247347 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Assist in the implementation and control of financial transactions and contractual aspects of programmes and projects, under the supervision of an official. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-R4@ec.europa.eu (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). Please note that this post is financed under the EU Trust Fund for Africa and limited in time (no indefinite contract can be granted). The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2025 (initial contract and one possible renewal where appropriate), subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 24 August 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.SGUA Support Group for Ukraine |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Policy Assistant |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 259750 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, assist the Support Group for Ukraine (SGUA) in preparing policy documents related to issues of relevance for the SGUA, including briefings for the management and the Commissioner, replies to MEP questions, replies to correspondence, and reports of meetings. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: sgua@ec.europa.eu with copy to Georg ZIEGLER and Frank PAUL. (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 25 August 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.D.2 Montenegro, Serbia |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Policy Assistant |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 268451 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | To contribute under the supervision of an official towards the definition and implementation of EU policies towards Serbia, to monitor the country's EU accession process, including the approximation of legislation notably in the fields of internal market and competition, to co-ordinate implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) bodies. Chapter desk for chapter 7 |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-D2@ec.europa.eu. (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 29 August 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C.2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Policy Assistant - European Integration |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 271634 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official to: i) contribute to the horizontal coordination and policy analysis related to the Eastern Partnership and the monitoring of its implementation, and ii) provide support to the country team covering bilateral assistance to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. Responsibilities include the preparation and coordination of lines to take and briefings: coordination of horizontal inputs to briefings, inter-institutional reports in close cooperation with 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 | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-C2@ec.europa.eu (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 06 September 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.C.2 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus & Eastern Partnership Coordination |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | International Aid / Cooperation Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 287734 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | To support the implementation of reforms in the area of good governance, rule of law, democratisation and security 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 | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-C2@ec.europa.eu (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 06 September 2022 |

ENTITY | NEAR.D.5.002 Western Balkans Regional Programmes, Economic Investment Plan - Western Balkans Investment Framework |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Programme Manager - Innovation and Private Sector Development |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 300614 |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-D5@ec.europa.eu (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 30 September 2022 |
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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.