Internship – European Parliament Liason Office – Washington, DC

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Complement your studies in International & Global Affairs with a genuinely international internship

The European Parliament invites college graduates (US citizens only) to apply for a full-time internship in its Washington, DC office from mid-September to mid-December 2014, with the possibility of a two-month extension[1] in Brussels and Strasbourg. Candidates do not have to be currently enrolled in school to be considered for the internship.

What better place to monitor transnational politics in action, to see global players in international affairs addressing global challenges across a range of policy areas, to witness the interplay between decision-makers in the US – be they from the legislative or executive branch – and lawmakers from the European Union?

About the European Parliament and its DC Office (EPLO)

The European Parliament opened its Washington Liaison Office in January 2010 to meet the growing need for contact on legislative issues between the US Congress and law makers at EU level. It is no coincidence that this followed the introduction of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009, which gave the European Parliament full legislative powers within the European Union comparable to those of the US House of Representatives in a far wider range of policy areas than had been the case before.

In policy areas such as the environment, energy, financial services, counter-terrorism, international trade, data protection, product safety or food and farming, legislators on both sides of the Atlantic increasingly recognise that a transatlantic dialogue is essential to ensure that new rules are not adopted without prior knowledge of standards being set elsewhere in the world.

A team of 11 European Parliament senior staffers is now stationed in our DC Office charged with creating and fostering working relations between parliamentary committees and their Congressional and regulatory counterparts in the US government.

Venue

Our DC offices are located on the 6th floor at 2175 K Street, NW, in the same building as the European Union Delegation. Our European headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium and in Strasbourg, France.

Opportunities for EPLO interns

  • Working with staffers on a chosen policy area, such as energy, environment, counter-terrorism, financial services, trade, human rights or development co-operation (this list is in no way exhaustive, so feel free to indicate another policy area of interest to you);
  • Focusing on an area of process, such as comparison of procedures between the House of Representatives and the European Parliament;
  • Concentrating on media as well as internal and external communications;
  • Developing an individual project of your and our interest by utilizing the resources of the EP and the expertise of your fellow EPLO staff members;
  • Analysing legislation and the policies that are vital for the transatlantic EU-US relationship;
  • Preparing working papers and memos for the EP Headquarters;
  • Preparing and assisting the Office in managing visits of European Parliament Members;
  • Participating inour meetings with major interlocutors on the Hill, executive agencies, and think-tanks.

What might you gain from an EPLO internship?

  • Familiarity with policy-making, both in the US and the European Union;
  • An opportunity to learn by doing;
  • Networking opportunities with senior staffers liaising directly with Congressional members;
  • Advanced knowledge of global governance dealing with global issues;
  • A chance to combine theory and practice in your chosen area of speciality and potentially laying the basis for your Policy Analysis Exercise;
  • Access to the European Parliament intranet and databases;
  • Experience working in a truly multinational Europeanteam, currently 11 nationalities – you may also practice your linguistic skills;
  • Overall: a career-enhancing experience leaving you better-equipped for a future role in politics, international organisations, NGOs or the corporate sector.

Application process

Please submit your Europass CV[2] by June 18th and a 500-words statement of interest. Be sure to indicate the type of assignment you seek: policy area or function (e.g. communications or procedural matters). Two recommendation letters directly sent to us by faculty members are also required. Please address your application to:

EPLO – Internships, 2175 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

or e-mail epwashington.internship@ep.europa.eu

Expenses

A monthly allowance (€1212) to cover accommodation and possible travel to Europe will be granted.

Questions?

Contact: Mr Jean-Luc Robert

epwashington.internship@ep.europa.eu

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[1] Depending on European Parliament and academic calendars (precise timing TBD).

[2] Available at: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae

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