The Council of the EU and the European Council are two of the main EU institutions together with the European Commission and the European Parliament. These institutions collectively provide the EU with policy direction and play different roles in the law-making process:
- the European Council defines the political direction and priorities
- the European Commission puts forward proposals for new laws
- Council of the EU and European Parliament negotiate, agree and jointly adopt European laws
The General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) offers paid traineeships to EU nationals who have completed at least the first part of their university studies and have a degree certificate or equivalent. Traineeships are split into two periods, each lasting five months. There are other types of traineeships available, including those for national administration school students and trainees with a disability. Applications are open for a limited period and must be submitted online. The application form is available in English and French, and applicants must have a thorough knowledge of one of these languages. Find out more on the official website.
