Job opportunities at the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST)
The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is the single point of contact for all EU citizens who wish to work for the European Institutions.
Contract agents
There are two types of contract agents:
- contract agents on a contract of limited duration (up to a maximum of six years) work at Commission headquarters;
- contract agents on longer-term contracts can work in satellite offices, agencies and eventually in EU delegations.
To work in Commission (Headquarters and Delegations) candidates need to have successfully passed a full CAST competition.
For more information regarding "Who may apply ?" and the generic notice about vacancies, please visit the dedicated section.
Trainees
The European Commission has an official traineeship scheme mainly aimed at young university graduates. For further information, please consult the traineeship web pages.
Seconded national experts (SNE)
SNEs are typically seconded from the civil services of EU Member States. They are usually recruited via their Permanent Representations to the EU.
Please read carefully the eligibility criteria.
Temporary agents
In exceptional circumstances, NEAR may consider engaging temporary agents.
- Candidates should be aware that they are only eligible for posts which have at least the same function group level as the function group level of the EPSO test they succeeded (e.g. holder of a FGIV CAST are eligible for CA FG IV, III and II) or the function group for which they have registered within the Commission call for expression of interest for contract staff in generalist profiles.
- Candidates who passed an EPSO test which is still valid. Please bear in mind that for EPSO CAST 27, EPSO CAST 2008 and EPSO CAST 2010, only DB3 candidates who also passed the test held in July 2011 are eligible. Candidates who passed CAST Croatia cannot apply for vacant contract agent posts in EU delegation as this CAST competition was not organised in full (DB2 only).
Who may apply?
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- Posts in Headquarters are covered by 3b contracts. This means that a contract agent working in delegations and covered by 3a contracts selected for a post in Headquarters (outside the annual mobility exercise) will have to resign his/her 3a contract and conclude new 3b contract for maximum 6 years. First contract will be concluded for 1 year. Extension of 2 years will follow provided positive probation period report. Any subsequent extensions will be of 1 year up to a maximum of 6 years in total.
- The selection procedure is organised by NEAR Headquarters (unit to which the post is attached).
Who may apply?
- Contract agents who have served in the same job in the same delegation for at least 3 years or more.
- Contract agents whose request for early mobility on personal grounds outside the annual mobility exercise was accepted by Headquarters. Please note that contract agents included in the mobility exercise for duly substantiated personal reasons are automatically authorised to also apply for vacancies published outside the annual mobility exercise for the same reasons.
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- The selection procedure is organised by each delegation concerned;
- After a pre-selection based on the CVs, the delegation will invite pre-selected candidates to participate in a phone interview panel and will request the recruitment of the selected candidate to ENEST Headquarters for validation.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
No available vacancies.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | Brussels – ENEST.B2 (Serbia Kosovo) |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer - Economic & Trade Officer - Serbia |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 234926 (updated) |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, define, promote and implement EU policies towards Serbia and Kosovo including in terms of their EU integration process and the implementation of their reform agendas. To follow issues related to economic, trade and competition matters, including chapters 8, 17, 18, 20, 29, 30 and the economic criteria in Serbia. Publication corrigendum (language requirement changed) |
| CONTACT | Julien [dot] CRAMPES Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-B2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 21 October 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.B.4 – Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Secretary to the Unit |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 377510 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, to provide administrative and secretarial support to the Unit in fulfilling its mission and achieving its objectives. |
| CONTACT | barbara [dot] jesus-gimeno Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: enest-b4 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 23 October 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST.A.2 – Strategic Programming and Performance |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Evaluation Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 345790 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | The job is in a fun work environment where we tackle our challenges together as a well coordinated, friendly and supportive team. The job holder provides advice to all aspects of the work of the unit. The unit is a horizontal unit strategically steering the EU’s financial assistance to the Enlargement and Neighbourhood East regions. This includes contributions to strategy, policy development and implementation in all areas of the unit’s competence. The role will focus on ensuring that fact-based analysis of the implementation of policies and programmes contributes to better performance and evidence basis for policy making and the further development of our financing instruments. One particular element will be the evaluation and closing of the Facility for Refugees in Türkiye and support to the development of a potential follow-up programme based on the results of the evaluation and the lessons learnt. The job spans different subjects and a great variety of partners providing a wide set of learning and training opportunities, targeted to the needs of the job, to support your professional growth and development. |
| CONTACT | Bernhard [dot] WINDISCH Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: ENEST-A2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 27 October 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG.ENEST DirR Unit R3 – Audit and Internal Control |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Secretary |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 342786 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To provide administrative support to all unit members, and to assist the Head of Unit in human resources management |
| CONTACT | aurora [dot] palko Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to aurora [dot] palko (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). Please note that this post is financed under the Ukraine Facility and limited in time. The end date of the post is expected to be |
| DEADLINE | 27 October 2025 |