Eurocities, the network of major European cities, is offering an internship in advocacy.
We are looking for a motivated and proactive intern to join our advocacy team starting in September 2026 for a 6-month term.
Eurocities is a dynamic and international team where we help people thrive in a friendly, open, and healthy environment. Joining our team means being part of an organisation that connects cities across Europe. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, contribute to impactful initiatives, and engage with a network of experts from various fields.
This opportunity is reserved for students eligible for the Erasmus+ grant or other grants and depends on a successful application to the grant scheme. More information about the scheme is available here. Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility and specific details with their university.
We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and innovation, making it an ideal place for young professionals to gain hands-on experience in an international context.
The selected candidate will have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in European policy-making, urban affairs, and stakeholder engagement within a dynamic network of major European cities.
You will work as part of the advocacy team at the Eurocities Brussels office. In this role, you will:
- Assist in preparing briefings, policy papers, and communication materials.
- Help organise meetings, events, and advocacy campaigns.
- Support policy monitoring and analysis on key EU initiatives affecting cities.
- Attend relevant EU institutional meetings and report back.
- Contribute to internal coordination and knowledge-sharing across teams.
As part of our team, you will:
- Gain in-depth insight into EU advocacy, housing and just transition, enhancing your knowledge and practical skills.
- Work closely with and learn from experts and city representatives from across Europe, fostering professional development and networking opportunities.
- A supportive and engaging workplace in the heart of Brussels.
- Reimbursement of public transportation costs in Belgium.
You are a student full of initiative, self-driven, curious, creative, flexible, and results-oriented. You are eager to take ownership of tasks and contribute meaningfully to your team’s goals.
The skills and experience to do this job successfully include*:
- You must be enrolled as a Bachelor’s or Master’s student at a recognised higher education institution (e.g. university, business school, or equivalent) for the entire duration of the internship, in political science, EU affairs, law, economics, housing, urban studies, sustainable development, or a related field.
- To be considered, the internship must be arranged through a direct agreement with your university. You must have a funding option such as a university bursary or an Erasmus+ grant.
- Strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills, plus familiarity with digital tools (like Excel, Adobe, etc.), are highly beneficial.
- Strong interest in EU policy, urban affairs, and sustainability, with a broad knowledge and interest in housing, just transition and governance in the EU context.
- Previous experience in event preparations and logistics.
- Excellent communication and writing skills in English (other languages are a plus).
- Being a proactive team player, organised, detail-oriented, and able to work independently.
- Has a collaborative mindset and is eager to learn.
- Previous experience in EU affairs or dealing with EU institutions, beyond university courses and projects.
- Familiarity with EU institutions, policies, and processes.
- Any additional skills relevant to the position.
We are looking for candidates who fulfil most of these criteria, but do not hesitate to apply if you think that you could be a good fit for the position.
- The chance to contribute to impactful projects with support and guidance from managers and colleagues.
- An opportunity to enhance both hard and soft skills through practical experience and mentorship.
- Learning goals tailored to help you meet educational requirements effectively.
- A valuable educational experience that integrates with a real-world professional environment.
- Exposure to an international work environment of a European network organisation.
We are aware that internships can pose financial challenges, especially due to relocation to another city. We still encourage you to apply to the position. Adaptations regarding work location and work regime can be considered.
Applicants are requested to send a letter of motivation, describing their motivation and area of interest, in one page maximum, together with a CV with by 12:00 on Tuesday, 30 June 2026 to: Patricia de Wouters, People & Operations Director, at [email protected].
Please send the documents in PDF format and mention ‘Policy and Advocacy intern’ in the subject line.
We kindly ask you to complete the following questions to help us assess your eligibility for this internship. A brief sentence is sufficient for each answer:
- What is the earliest date you would be available to start the six-month internship?
- As this is a mandatory prerequisite, can you confirm whether you will have a mobility grant (e.g., Erasmus+, university, regional grant) to support your internship?
- Based on the grant amount you expect to receive, will it cover the costs of relocating to and living in Brussels for the duration of the internship?
Interviews will be held in person or online the week of 20 July
We are aware that you might use AI when applying for this position. It’s perfectly fine to use AI to brainstorm, structure your ideas or edit your language. Just please be aware that while AI is one of the tools we use in Eurocities, the main tool we need for the work here is our brains: This is a content-based position, and one that AI cannot do for you. Please keep this in mind during the process to avoid disappointment on both sides later in the process. We want to use this interview to get to know you and your ideas, not what ChatGPT thinks the best answers are.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. CVs and personal data of non-selected candidates are not shared with anyone outside Eurocities and will be deleted immediately after the recruitment process. For more information, read our privacy policy.
