Job opportunities at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)
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.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
No available vacancies for the time being.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.4 Coordination of financing instruments - performance, results and evaluation |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Planning and Programming Officer |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 374205 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute to the efficient and quality planning and programming of assistance under the Neighbourhood, Development and External Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe, the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA III) as well as the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-A4 Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in the subject line. Please note that this post is financed under the EU Trust Fund for Africa and limited in time.The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2026, subject to budget availability. |
DEADLINE | 23 June 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.5 IFIs and Investments: Blended Finance and EU Guarantees |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Programme Assistant - External Relations |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 275739 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | The overall purpose is to contribute, under the supervision of an official, to the efficient use of financial instruments in NEAR countries and particularly in Turkey, via the Turkey Investment Platform. DG NEAR has strong interest on long lasting relations with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). One of the key instruments implemented through IFIs/DFIs and a high priority of the Commission is the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), through which the EU provides budgetary guarantees for sustainable investment programmes in our partner countries, helping to strengthen our partnerships and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-A5 with copy to: Mr. Fulvio Capurso (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 24 June 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.1 Communication and Inter-institutional relations |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
TITLE | Regional Programme Manager – Strategic communication |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 374209 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an official, in charge of: |
CONTACT | Ms Fanny MARCHAL – Deputy Head of Unit Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-A1 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 4 July 2022 |

ENTITY | DG.NEAR.A.2 Thematic Support - Rule of Law, Governance and Security |
FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
TITLE | Policy Assistant - Gender Equality |
VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 292830 |
OVERALL PURPOSE | Contribute to work of the Human Rights and Civil Society Team, providing advice on gender equality and LGBTIQ issues in DG NEAR. Provide expertise in the preparation of strategies, policy dialogues and financial assistance programmes. Offer quality support and training modules. Act as a back-up to other team members as necessary. Please note that this post is financed under the EU FRIT facility and limited in time. The end date of the post is expected to be 31 December 2026, subject to budget availability. |
CONTACT | Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: NEAR-A2 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
DEADLINE | 5 July 2022 |
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- 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 NEAR Headquarters for validation.