EU Public Affairs traineeship (CIP)

Who is JBCE?

Founded in 1999, the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE) is a leading cross-sectoral European organisation representing the interests of over 110 multinational companies of Japanese parentage active in Europe.

Building a new era of cooperation between the EU and Japan is the core of our activities, which we perform under several committees focusing on: Corporate Sustainability, Digital Innovation, Environment & Energy, Standards and Conformity and Trade.

What does JBCE offer?

• A 6-month (up to one-year) contract – “convention d’immersion professionnelle” – (1.200€ net/month) with the opportunity to learn more about the functioning of an international association (AISBL), EU affairs, lobbying activities and relations between Japan and the EU.
• A stimulating, international work environment in an office in the heart of the EU quarter.
• Regular feedback from your supervisor, knowledge about key EU topics and support to develop your professional skills.

What will you do?

• Monitor key developments and next steps in a range of key European issues
• Assist in the reporting for JBCE’s member companies on EU political and legal developments as well as policy activities relating to JBCE’s key priority areas
• Support in the organisation of internal meetings, committee meetings & external events
• Assist in the research on various European issues
• Other day-to-day tasks as assigned under supervision

What profile should you have?

Required:

• Graduate in Law, Economics, European studies or related field
• Excellent knowledge of EU law and deep understanding of the EU policy-making process
• Proficiency in English, ideally native speaker
• Good working knowledge of MS Office including Word, Excel and Outlook
• Citizenship of an EU member state or a valid residence and work permit for Belgium

Highly valued:

• Prior experience in one of the EU institutions (BlueBook trainee etc.) or in a Public Affairs’ Consultancy
• Any other languages, especially Japanese
• Prior experience in Japanese companies or general interest in Japanese politics/economics/culture
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines
• Strong interest in European affairs and commitment to the EU’s values

Due to limited staff resources and the anticipated number of applicants, only candidates selected for an interview will receive a reply.

How to apply?

Please email your application in English to nilsson@jbce.org including a CV and a cover letter (maximum 1 page).

Please make sure to confirm that you have not been employed under a CIP contract in the past and that you are not currently enrolled in a university.

What are the next steps?

The deadline for applying is 31st July 2025.

The interviews are scheduled to take place in Brussels in the second half of August.

The start date would be mid-September 2025.

Do not forget to mention that you found this job ad on the Euractiv Jobsite!