EU traineeships open to VET graduates for the first time
New rules adopted by the European Commission in July 2026 reserve places in its Blue Book traineeship for graduates of vocational education and training.
On 16 July 2026, the European Commission adopted new rules for its Blue Book traineeship programme. For the first time, graduates of vocational education and training can apply, with up to 100 places reserved for them.
The Blue Book traineeship is one of the best-known ways to gain experience in a European institution. It receives around 36,000 applications a year for nearly 2,000 places in the Commission, 14 EU agencies and bodies, and the European External Action Service. Until now, it was aimed at university graduates.
What changes
- VET graduates can apply, with up to 100 places reserved for them.
- One modernised framework replaces several separate decisions, with improved grants and allowances for trainees.
- New rules on anti-harassment and non-discrimination, and more attention to a balance between Member States.
- The new rules apply from the traineeship session that starts in March 2027; applications for it were open from 22 July to 4 September 2026.
The Commission’s services offer work in fields such as IT, finance, logistics, social media and event management — areas where vocational skills are in demand. Future application rounds are announced on the Blue Book traineeship website.
A signal of recognition
The change supports the goals of the Union of Skills and sends a clear message: vocational qualifications are a valuable route into European careers. X-VET shares that goal — its certification system, aligned with the European approach to micro-credentials, helps VET learners show the green and digital competences they have gained.
