It is worth emphasizing that EPSO is responsible for selection, not direct recruitment. This means that after passing the tests and meeting the formal requirements, a candidate is placed on what is known as a reserve list. Only at a later stage does a specific institution invite selected individuals to proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process.
What is EPSO?
The European Personnel Selection Office (known as EPSO) is the interinstitutional body responsible for organising open competitions and selection procedures for positions within the institutions, bodies and agencies of the European Union:
- European Parliament
- Council of the European Union
- European Commission
- Court of Justice of the European Union
- European Court of Auditors
- European External Action Service
- European Economic and Social Committee
- European Committee of the Regions
- European Data Protection Supervisor
- European Ombudsman
In Poland, EPSO works closely with the Department of the Committee for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, promoting employment opportunities within EU institutions through dedicated programmes, webinars, and training sessions.
Czym jest EPSO ?
IMPORTANT !!!
The EPSO AD5 Generalist competition is currently open and this a major gateway to a career in the European Union’s institutions.
This year’s call for Administrators (grade AD5) was launched on 5 February 2026 and will remain open until 10 March 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time.
It’s aimed especially at graduates and early‑career candidates holding a university degree – no previous professional experience is required. You must be, however, a citizen of an EU Member State with proficiency in at least two EU languages.
Successful candidates will be placed on a reserve list, from which EU institutions, bodies and agencies recruit new officials to work on EU policies and programs that affect millions of people across Europe.
More info: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/apply-graduate-competition-ad-5
Career opportunities in the EU for students and graduates
The European Union offers multiple pathways to begin a professional career in its institutions and agencies:
1. Permanent positions (Administrators and Assistants)
University graduates holding at least a Bachelor’s degree may apply for generalist profiles (e.g. lawyers, economists, linguists), where no previous professional experience is required. Specialist profiles are also available; however, these typically do require relevant professional experience.
More information: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/permanent-staff
2. Contract and Temporary Staff
This is a good option for those who wish to gain their first experience in the EU institutions without going through a full competition procedure for a permanent position.
More information about contract staff can be found on: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/contract-staff
And information about temporary staff can be found here: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/staff-categories/temporary-staff
3. Traineeships – the best starting point for graduates
Most traineeships in EU institutions are paid and typically last around five months. They offer valuable insight into the internal functioning of European administration.
Among the most popular programs are:
Schuman Traineeship at the European Parliament – designed for university graduates. Areas include policy, law, finance, communication and IT. More: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/at-your-service/en/work-with-us/traineeships
Blue Book Traineeship at the European Commission – one of the most recognised EU traineeship programmes, offering experience in policymaking and administrative work. More: https://traineeships.ec.europa.eu/index_en?prefLang=pl
In addition, numerous EU agencies and specialised bodies offer traineeship opportunities. Current vacancies are published on the EPSO website and on the websites of individual institutions.
What does the first stage of EPSO recruitment look like?
The recruitment process organised by EPSO begins with:
Creating an account in the EPSO system.
Passing the online tests, including:
logical reasoning tests,
questions assessing knowledge of the EU,
a written test evaluating the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
Key requirements:
In order to apply for a position within the institutions of the European Union, candidates must:
- hold citizenship of an EU Member State,
- have knowledge of at least two official EU languages (one at C1 level and another at a minimum of B level),
- meet the relevant educational requirements (depending on the position).
In practice, proficiency in English is essential, as it is one of the main working languages of the EU institutions.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that the European Union is much more than just a few of its most well-known institutions in Brussels or Luxembourg. It is also a network of specialized agencies and bodies, such as:
European Defence Agency (EDA)
European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)
European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
Each of these carries out specific tasks — from scientific research and innovation, through education and culture, to climate, health, and security.
For students and graduates, this means one thing: the opportunities are truly diverse. Whether you are interested in law, politics, new technologies, environmental protection, or communications, the EU structures offer space for professional growth.
Familiarity with how EPSO works and the available internship programs is the first step toward consciously planning a career in an international environment, and perhaps even toward a job that has a real impact on the lives of millions of citizens across Europe.
It is also worth following the official LinkedIn profiles:
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-careers/posts/?feedView=all – official EPSO LinkedIn profile,
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-careers-fair/posts/– online recruitment events and job board for the international public sector
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-of-opportunities/posts/?feedView=all– job board of EU opportunities, updated daily
We also encourage you to follow the social media accounts of our EU Career Ambassadors at the University of Wrocław:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eucareersuwr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Ambasadorzy-kariery-UE-Uniwersytet-Wroc%C5%82awski/61583300675038/
