You will be part of the EU Institutions and Fora Division in the Directorate General International and European Relations. Our Directorate General has 120 staff preparing policy positions for the ECB, the Eurosystem and the European System of Central Banks on European and global issues.

The EU Institutions and Fora Division has approximately 20 staff responsible for preparing the ECB’s policy positions and conducting analytical work on EU institutional and policy issues, often in close coordination with other ECB business areas. The division is committed to providing ECB decision-makers with high-quality policy assessments and positions backed by qualitative and quantitative research. We work on policy dossiers linked to deepening the Economic and Monetary Union. This includes strengthening its economic governance framework and completing the banking and capital markets unions. We also address other EU policy priorities relevant to the ECB’s tasks, including climate change and digital transition. In addition, we act as the primary ECB contact vis-à-vis other EU institutions. We coordinate activities related to the accountability of the ECB for central banking and supervisory tasks, which involves close interactions with the European Parliament. Lastly, we coordinate the ECB’s preparations for meetings of the European Council, the Eurogroup and the ECOFIN, including their preparatory bodies.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

As a trainee you will:

This traineeship offers you excellent opportunities to work at the forefront of policymaking in high-level EU fora and to deepen your understanding of EU policies and interinstitutional relations. It also allows you to develop your technical and policy skills by working with large datasets and state-of-the-art analytical tools to support the development of ECB policy stances, often in collaboration with other ECB business areas. You will work under the guidance of an experienced mentor in a team of highly qualified experts at the crossroads of political economics, international finance and macroeconomics. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Essential:

Desired:

You are curious and eager to learn, and want to further develop your ability to analyse complex information. You are keen to collaborate with others, pursue team goals and learn from other people’s diverse perspectives. You strive to know and anticipate stakeholder needs, and will signal any need for change and propose alternative solutions.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECB’s mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe. You are keen to be part of our team and to use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.

Initial traineeship of 6 months, with a possible extension to up to 12 months in total. The start date will be September 2026.

Other details on the conditions applicable to traineeships at the ECB can be found on our website.

The recruitment process for this position will include a remote written exercise in the pre-selection phase and – if you are invited to participate in the subsequent selection phase – an online interview.

Further information on how to apply is available on our website.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months from the closing date for applications, from which you might be considered for other traineeship positions within the ECB.