Webinar Unlock EU career opportunities: information session introduces Blue Book Traineeships for VET graduates

Taking place online on 23 July 2026, from 15:30 to 16:30 CEST, the session will introduce the new VET traineeships strand within the Blue Book Traineeship Programme. This marks the first time the programme is being opened to people with VET qualifications, creating a new pathway for VET graduates to gain first-hand experience of EU policymaking and administration in an international and multicultural environment.

Applications for the traineeship session beginning in March 2027 will be open from 22 July to 4 September 2026. The webinar will therefore provide timely, practical guidance for potential applicants and for VET organisations wishing to share this opportunity with their learners and graduates.

A new pathway into the European Commission for VET graduates

The Blue Book Traineeship Programme is the European Commission's flagship traineeship scheme. It offers a five-month paid traineeship, allowing participants to experience the work of the EU from the inside, contribute to its daily activities and develop their professional skills in a multicultural working environment.

Under the updated traineeship framework, the Commission is broadening access to the programme by opening it to VET graduates for the first time. This step recognises the value of diverse learning routes across Europe and the important contribution that vocational education and training make to the labour market.

The initiative also supports the objectives of the Union of Skills, by helping VET graduates gain meaningful professional experience in a high-quality European public administration setting. At the same time, the updated framework aims to make traineeships more inclusive and accessible, including by strengthening the financial conditions available to trainees and reinforcing the Commission's commitment to fairness, equal treatment and a safe working environment.

The upcoming EAfA webinar will explain what this opportunity means in practice. Participants will receive a clear overview of the traineeship programme, including the application process, eligibility requirements, relevant qualifications, language requirements, and the types of roles that may be available to applicants.

The session will open with a welcome and introduction from Anna Banczyk, Head of Unit at DG EMPL, who will explain the rationale behind opening a dedicated VET traineeship pathway. Mojca Boltin, Head of Traineeships Office at DG HR, will then present how the initiative will work in practice, including what applicants need to know before preparing their application.

As this is the first edition open to VET graduates, the webinar will also include a dedicated Q&A session, giving participants the opportunity to raise practical questions directly with DG HR.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the Blue Book Traineeship Programme and how VET graduates can apply.

Register now for the webinar!

• apprenticeship
• Thursday 23 July 2026, 15:30 - 16:30 (CEST)
• Online only

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