General Information

Vacancy number
1426/2026
Recruitment type
Traineeship
Posted date
04-Jun-2026
Deadline to apply
17-Jun-2026
Duty station
Organisation-wide
Entity
Organisation-wide

Description & Requirements

Your Team

Join the  and engage in the promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law as well as in the support roles that make the Organisation work.

About 80 traineeship opportunities are available across the Council of Europe for the 2026-2027 session, each offering a unique and enriching experience.

Get involved in meaningful projects, work alongside experts from across Europe, and develop your professional skills and network. This is your opportunity to make a real impact while shaping your international career. With traineeship opportunities spanning the Council of Europe, there is a wide range of experiences to choose from. Whether your interests lie in legal affairs, human rights, public health, international co-operation, public policy design or support services such as human resources, political and legal advice, IT, catering or communication, there is something for all tastes. The programme is designed to give valuable insight into the work, standards, and values of the Council of Europe. By joining an international and dynamic environment, trainees have the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the work of the Organisation. 

We encourage you to explore  andfind the one that best matches your interests and aspirations (at the end of the application process, you will be asked to indicate your first and second choice). While most of our traineeships take place in Strasbourg, they are also available in Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Graz, Lisbon,  Luxembourg and The Hague, as indicated in the relevant descriptions.

Your Role

As a Council of Europe trainee, you’ll dive straight into meaningful work - and you won’t be on your own: an experienced mentor will support and guide you as you take on various tasks.

Depending on the team you join, you will have the opportunity, for example, to:

  • conduct research on topics at the heart of European affairs;
  • contribute to the drafting of reports and studies discussed by international experts;
  • capture and synthesise key outcomes from high-level meetings;
  • shape and develop compelling communication content;
  • play an active role in the organisation of committee meetings and expert events;
  • play a part in the day-to-day life of your team; or
  • contribute to a support role (e.g. security, catering, HR, IT) essential for the Organisation to function.

To choose the best fit, . 

Requirements to apply

You must: 

  • have completed a minimum of three years of university study and have been awarded a degree for the first cycle of the , unless the traineeship description of your chosen team(s) specifies otherwise. Please note in particular that traineeships at the European Court of Human Rights require that you have completed a first year of a Master's degree;
  • have a very good knowledge of one of the Council of Europe's two official languages (English or French);

You must also:

  • be aged 18 or over;
  • be a citizen of one of the member states of the Council of Europe;
  • not be a child, stepchild, spouse, parent or grandparent of a current member of staff;
  • not have previously participated in a Council of Europe traineeship, study visit, or held employment with the Organisation in any capacity.

All the above requirements must be met at the latest on the day this vacancy closes. If you do not meet the requirements by this deadline, your application will not be considered.

Key competencies
  • Operational - Learning and development
  • Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation
What we offer

This traineeship session will start on 1 October 2026 and will end on 31 March 2027. 

Traineeships at the Parliamentary Assembly with start on 1 September 2026 and will end on 28 February 2027.

The gross remuneration is approximately 1.320 EUR per month for trainees in Strasbourg.

Applications and selection procedure

When applying you will be able to name two teams as your first and second choice. Your application will then be reviewed and you may be contacted for an online interview. You will be informed whether you are selected, on a waiting list or not selected approximately two months before the traineeship starts. 

The deadline for applications is 23:59:59 (CET/CEST) on the day indicated in the General information section of this vacancy notice (see above).

You may find out more information on how to fill in and submit an application on our .

Important information

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. 

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at , we will ensure that your request is handled.

The information published on the CoE’s careers website regarding working conditions is accurate at the time of publication of the vacancy notice. Any changes to these conditions during the recruitment process will be updated on our Portal and will apply at the time of the job offer. Our career's website is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Should you have remaining questions, please contact us at .

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.