The European Commission, one of the key institutions of the European Union, has once again launched an application process that allows around 1,000 people from across the EU and beyond to enter the so-called EU bubble. Trainees are going to have a first-hand experience from an official’s perspective.
Blue Book: an opportunity for the younger generation to work in the EU
The Commission offers five-month administrative or translation internships. Interns carry out their duties both at the European Commission and in its services and agencies, most of which are located in the heart of the European Union – in Brussels. Some internships also take place in Luxembourg and other locations within the EU.
The internship is paid, and the Commission increases the monthly salary every year. It currently stands at €1,493.36 (PLN 6,400). Recruitment takes place twice a year: applications for the October internship must be submitted in February, while applications for the March session must be submitted in July or August.
‘The Blue Book program is intended to reflect the diversity of contemporary Europe and ensure maximum equality of opportunity, equal treatment, and equal access for all candidates. Regardless of gender, race, skin colour, ethnic and social origin, religion or beliefs, membership of a national minority, disability, age or sexual orientation’. The Commission points out.
An internship that shows everyday life at the Commission and its agencies
During the internship, trainees gain experience in public administration by participating in internal and external meetings and preparing various types of documents, including reports, memos, analyses and responses to inquiries. The internship may also involve assisting in the preparation of responses to questions from citizens or stakeholders.
The internship is an opportunity not only to work “behind a desk”, but also to participate in the work of committees dealing with a variety of topics, such as LGBT issues, democracy and environmental protection.
The Blue Book is a meeting place for hundreds of young and talented people from different parts of Europe and beyond, creating a unique opportunity to make new friends.
‘It can be compared to a professional Erasmus semester – friendships made during the program often last a lifetime,’ encourages the Commission.
An extremely competitive internship
Between 2020 and 2025, a total of 9,562 interns were accepted into the Blue Book internship programme. The largest number of candidates came from Italy – as many as 25,551 people, of whom 1,311 were accepted. France came second with 11,916 candidates and 1,086 accepted. 2,441 people applied from Poland, and 450 of them were allowed to do an internship.
Blue Book remains one of the most competitive paths for young people who want to gain experience within the European Union.
“Working at the Commission was a dream come true and fully met my expectations. The opportunity to get involved in Cohesion Policy and make a real contribution to reducing disparities between regions gave me enormous professional and personal satisfaction. The internship is a unique opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the European Union and to establish valuable contacts and friendships,” says one of the programme’s graduates from Portugal.
Don’t delay: the application deadline is 29 August 2025.
