EEAS HQ - Call for Expression of Interest for the recruitment of one Temporary Agent under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) as LEGAL ASSISTANT (AST3) in RM.BHR.3 Selection and Recruitment division

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates must meet ALL of the following general and specific conditions on the closing date for online applications:

• Be a national of one of the EU Member States and enjoy full rights as a citizen;

• Meet any obligations imposed on him or her by the laws concerning military service;

• Provide the appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of their  duties;

• Have the capacity to work in languages of the CFSP in writing and orally.

• Post-secondary education attested by a diploma followed by at least 3 years of relevant professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties OR secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, followed by at least 6years’ professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties.

• Candidates who, at the time of the application, are EU officials, independently of their administrative status under Article 35 of the SR, cannot request to be recruited as temporary agents. In the case of applications from EU officials on leave for personal grounds, successful candidates will be reinstated into active employment within the meaning of Article 35(a) of the SR.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Candidates should:

• have a minimum of 3 years of professional experience in providing legal assistance and advice;

• have strong drafting and analytical skills combined with sound legal judgement;

• have sound knowledge of EU legal and institutional matters;

• have sound understanding of the EU Staff Regulations and Conditions of Employment of other Servants (CEOS);

• have strong communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts both within and outside the EEAS;

• have a strong service-oriented attitude and the ability to work proactively;

• be able to draft and review legal texts in English and in French (CFSP languages);

• be a flexible team player.

Furthermore

• professional experience in the implementation of the EU Staff Regulations and Conditions of Employment of other Servants;

• working experience in other EU institutions, especially in HR or legal services;

• experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;

• ability to work in a demanding environment, with short delay;

• agility, creative and flexible mind-set to solve multi-dimensional problems;

• training or certification in Law;

 

would be considered as assets.

WE ARE

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service. Since 2011, the EEAS carries out the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) to promote peace, prosperity, security, and the interests of the EU across the globe. It brings together European civil servants, diplomats from EU Member States, national experts and local staff worldwide.

The EEAS supports the High Representative in the exercise of her mandate to steer the Union’s CFSP, including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), to represent the EU on issues relating to the CFSP and to chair the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports her as Vice-President of the Commission with regard to her responsibilities within the Commission, including the coordination of other aspects of the EU’s external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with the EU Member States, the General Secretariat of the Council, the services of the Commission and the Secretariat General of the European Parliament.

The EEAS Headquarters are in Brussels. It is also responsible for the management of the network of 145 Union Delegations and Offices worldwide. These Diplomatic Representations play a vital role in representing the EU in the country where they are based, in promoting the values and interests of the EU, and in building networks and partnerships. They are responsible for all policy areas of the relationship between the EU and the host country/organisation.

The mission of the Directorate General for Resource Management (DG.RM) is to support the functioning and the development of the EEAS, in Headquarters and in the EU Delegations, by providing appropriate financial and human resources, logistic infrastructure and an effective security regime. Its global objective is to respond to the EEAS' evolving needs and to ensure that the Service is in the best possible conditions to fulfil its political priorities within the available resources.

In the DG.RM, the core task of the BHR.3 Division is managing the selection and recruitment processes for different staff categories in the EEAS, for non-management positions in Headquarters or Delegations: officials, temporary agents, contract agents, seconded national experts. It supports the EEAS and its staff by selecting and recruiting the most suitable candidates for each post and identifying the best-fitting posts for staff members. It serves colleagues and EEAS entities with their needs related to staff selection, recruitment, mobility, rotation, as well as with duration, interruption and end of service.

The selection procedure will take place in three different and successive steps:

1. Expression of Interest

Before submitting their application, candidates should carefully check whether they meet all the eligibility criteria in order to avoid exclusion from the selection procedure.

Expressions of interest should be sent by e-mail to the following functional mailbox 

[sign up to see this e-mail](mailto:sign up to see this e-mail)

For the purposes of the e-mail application, the e-mail must have in the subject the following title:

"EoI-HQ(AST)-TA2b-AST3-RM.BHR.3-job nr 348055"

Such an expression of interest must be accompanied by:

• an updated Curriculum vitae. Candidates are invited to use the "Europass" CV format (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae) for their applications.

• a letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) in either English or in French; 

• Declaration of potential conflict of interest form filled in, dated and signed.

The deadline for submission of expressions is 21/10/2026 at 12:00 midday (Brussels time). 

For correspondence concerning the selection procedure, please use the following email address (the e-mail must have in the subject the following title: “EoI-HQ(AST)-TA2b-AST3-RM.BHR.3-job nr 348055”):

[sign up to see this e-mail](mailto:sign up to see this e-mail)

2. Pre-selection

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and the professional experience described in the CV and motivation letter.

3.  Selection

The candidates who have passed the pre-selection step will be invited for an interview so that the selection panel can evaluate them objectively and impartially based on the selection criteria, as listed in the present call for expression of interest. Additional specific written or oral tests might be organised by the panel. Following a comparative assessment of the merits of the preselected candidates, the selection panel will recommend the name of a candidate to the Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment, and possibly, name(s) of other candidate(s) that should be placed on a reserve list valid for maximum 12 months. That list would be used, on the one hand, in case of refusal of the offer or unavailability of the recommended candidate in the present procedure and/or, on the other hand, for other future similar recruitment needs.

Depending on the outcome of future appointment procedure(s) under Article 29 of the SR for a similar profile, EEAS services may, in case no suitable candidates are found among EU officials, have other job opportunities that would involve the recruitment of the Temporary Agents under Article 2(b) of the CEOS. If any, candidates in the above-mentioned reserve list may be contacted by other EEAS services for potential recruitment.

RECRUITMENT:

The selected candidate will be recruited as temporary agents under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents.

It is recalled, that if the interest of the service so requires, the selection procedures can be terminated at any stage and the post be filled by a reassignment in accordance with Article 7 of the SR and Article 10 of the CEOS.

Conflict of Interest and security risks

As a matter of policy, applications by individuals who have dual nationality of which one of a non-EU country, will be considered on a case-by-case basis taking account in particular of the functions attributed to the vacant post. The EEAS also examines if there could be a conflict of interest or security risks.

In this context, candidates shall fill with their application a declaration of potential conflict of interest (Annex attached)

Personal Security Clearance

This post is currently not identified as a post which requires Personnel Security Clearance (hereafter, the “PSC”) to access EU classified information (EUCI) in accordance with point 7 of Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2023) 18 on the security rules of the EEAS and as implemented by Decision ADMIN(2025) 42 on Implementing Rules and Procedures for Personnel Security measures for protection of EU Classified Information of 20 November 2025and its implementing decisions.

Nonetheless, candidates are informed that the list of posts requiring a PSC in the EEAS Headquarters is subject to regular review and that the current post might be identified in the future as a post which requires PSC. 

If required after the taking of duty, the selected candidate will need to be in a position to obtain a valid PSC issued by the competent authority of their Member State in accordance with national laws and regulations. 

In case of failure to obtain or renew the required PSC, the AACC may take the appropriate measures in accordance with Article 7 of the Decision ADMIN(2025) 42 on Implementing Rules and Procedures for Personnel Security measures for protection of EU Classified Information of 20 November 2025.

Description of the EU classified information levels is available under Article 2 of Annex A of the Decision ADMIN(2023) 18 on the security rules of the EEAS

Medical fitness

The selected candidate will be required to undergo a medical fitness examination in accordance with Article 13 of the CEOS. 

In case of positive results on the medical fitness examination and after assessment of the PSC conditions, the candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent, Grade AST3 for a duration of 4 years renewable subject to the possibility of extension offered by the EEAS Decision ADMIN(2023) 24 on the maximum duration of engagement. 

All member of the temporary staff shall serve initially a nine-month probationary period in accordance with Article 14 CEOS.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Brussels, Belgium

POST AVAILABLE: immediately

1. ^ Staff Regulations of Officials (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). For reference, see https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20190101

2. ^ Criminal records certificate

3. ^ Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. The privacy statement is available on EEAS webpage: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-recruitment-0_en

4. ^ OJ C 263, 26 July 2023, p.16.

5. ^  The basic salaries offered by the EU institutions are set out in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations. The current level, can be accessed via the link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C_202506564

   A number of factors are taken into account in calculating your pay. Use the pay calculator for an individual estimate:
   https://myintracomm.ec.europa.eu/staff/EN/working-conditions/pay/Pages/calculettes.aspx

The position of Legal Assistant in RM.BHR.3 Division. 

Please note that, candidates who have been engaged by the EEAS as non-permanent servants (temporary and contract agents engaged under Article 3b of the CEOS), will be bound by Decision ADMIN(2023) 24 of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 14/07/2023 on the maximum duration of engagement by the European External Action Service of non-permanent staff under successive limited duration contracts of different types, and on the minimum lapse of time between successive contracts under Article 2(e) of the CEOS and repealing the Decision ADMIN(2020) 10 of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 16/07/2020.

WE LOOK FOR:

A dynamic, proactive and highly motivated colleague with very good communication and organisational skills and with a developed sense of service. He/she will be entrusted with the following main tasks:

• Assist in horizontal legal issues concerning different staff categories, under the coordination of RM.BHR.3 Legal Officer;

• Draft AIPN/AACC decisions, employment contracts / addenda, policy and briefing notes for different staff categories, under the coordination of RM.BHR.3 Legal Officer;

• Assist in the resolution of complaint and appeal procedures brought by contract staff and statutory staff, under the coordination of RM.BHR.3 Legal Officer;

• Provide legal advice on the interpretation of applicable EU internal rules and assist / review implementation of decisions (including through regular contact with EEAS legal department);

• Prepare legal notes to facilitate decision-making by RM.BHR.3 hierarchy;

• Assist in updating when/if necessary, vacancy notices, guidelines, templates for contract posts and statutory staff, adapting them to existing legal framework, under the coordination of RM.BHR.3 Legal Officer;

• Liaise with EEAS legal department on legal issues concerning contract staff and statutory staff, under the coordination of RM.BHR.3 Legal Officer;

• Follow-up of mid-term and final probationary reports, advise reporting officer on the procedures in case of insufficient performance.

LEGAL BASIS

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents 

The successful candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) at the grade of AST3.

The EEAS strives to be a dynamic, respectful and inclusive Service. We value the talent and professional excellence of our staff, and are committed to building an organisation where gender equality and the respect of diversity are core values, as set out in the EEAS Mission Statement and the EEAS Agenda for Diversity and Inclusion. The EEAS is committed to achieving gender balance within its workforce and strives to avoid any form of discrimination during this selection procedure, as per Article 1(d) of the SR. We actively welcome applications from all qualified candidates without any discrimination based on any ground. We commit to recruit candidates with the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity, carrying out a selection based on merits required for the post and from the broadest possible geographical basis among the EU Member States.

The EEAS is committed to working with people with disabilities in the terms of the SR. If, by virtue of your medical condition or special needs, you require reasonable accommodation for a part or the entirety of this selection process, please send us an email to [sign up to see this e-mail](mailto:sign up to see this e-mail). Your request will be treated in strict confidence and no record will be kept. If a candidate with a disability is selected for a vacant post, the EEAS is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with Article 1(d)(4) of the SR. 

All selected candidates are expected to adhere to the Principles of Professional Behaviour of the EEAS, which outline the need for integrity, transparency, respect, professionalism and accountability, and a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment.