Job opportunities at the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA)
The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is the single point of contact for all EU citizens who wish to work for the European Institutions.
Contract agents
There are two types of contract agents:
- contract agents on a contract of limited duration (up to a maximum of six years) work at Commission headquarters;
- contract agents on longer-term contracts can work in satellite offices, agencies and eventually in EU delegations.
To work in Commission (Headquarters and Delegations) candidates need to have successfully passed a full CAST competition.
For more information regarding "Who may apply ?" and the generic notice about vacancies, please visit the dedicated section.
Trainees
The European Commission has an official traineeship scheme mainly aimed at young university graduates. For further information, please consult the traineeship web pages.
Seconded national experts (SNE)
SNEs are typically seconded from the civil services of EU Member States. They are usually recruited via their Permanent Representations to the EU.
Please read carefully the eligibility criteria.
Temporary agents
In exceptional circumstances, MENA may consider engaging temporary agents.
- Candidates should be aware that they are only eligible for posts which have at least the same function group level as the function group level of the EPSO test they succeeded (e.g. holder of a FGIV CAST are eligible for CA FG IV, III and II) or the function group for which they have registered within the Commission call for expression of interest for contract staff in generalist profiles.
- Candidates who passed an EPSO test which is still valid. Please bear in mind that for EPSO CAST 27, EPSO CAST 2008 and EPSO CAST 2010, only DB3 candidates who also passed the test held in July 2011 are eligible. Candidates who passed CAST Croatia cannot apply for vacant contract agent posts in EU delegation as this CAST competition was not organised in full (DB2 only).
Who may apply?
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- Posts in Headquarters are covered by 3b contracts. This means that a contract agent working in delegations and covered by 3a contracts selected for a post in Headquarters (outside the annual mobility exercise) will have to resign his/her 3a contract and conclude new 3b contract for maximum 6 years. First contract will be concluded for 1 year. Extension of 2 years will follow provided positive probation period report. Any subsequent extensions will be of 1 year up to a maximum of 6 years in total.
- The selection procedure is organised by NEAR Headquarters (unit to which the post is attached).
Who may apply?
- Contract agents who have served in the same job in the same delegation for at least 3 years or more.
- Contract agents whose request for early mobility on personal grounds outside the annual mobility exercise was accepted by Headquarters. Please note that contract agents included in the mobility exercise for duly substantiated personal reasons are automatically authorised to also apply for vacancies published outside the annual mobility exercise for the same reasons.
- Candidates who have passed a full CAST competition or who have created a profile on the EPSO website and linked it with the respective Call for expressions of interest. However, before being recruited in the European Commission the candidates should have passed the CAST competition.
Please note:
- The selection procedure is organised by each delegation concerned;
- After a pre-selection based on the CVs, the delegation will invite pre-selected candidates to participate in a phone interview panel and will request the recruitment of the selected candidate to ENEST Headquarters for validation.
Contract Agent Vacancies - Delegations
| ENTITY | MENA.B.1.DEL.Syria.003: Operations BEIRUT, Lebanon / DAMASCUS, Syria – the position is temporarily based in Lebanon |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV Living Condition Allowances: 30% in Lebanon, 40% after permanent re-assignment to Syria |
| TITLE | Programme Officer - Private Sector Development |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 260156 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of the Head of Cooperation, the Programme Officer will contribute to the definition and implementation of EU-funded assistance managed by the cooperation Section of the EU Delegation to Syria. The main focus is on supporting the gradual recovery and expansion of the private sector in Syria. In addition, the jobholder would be tasked with the design and implementation of actions to be funded by the EU in the energy sector, which critical for the country’s recovery pathway. These tasks will require designing interventions that take into account the sub-regional dimension (Middle East), in line with development principles supporting peaceful and inclusive post-conflict recovery and reconstruction. The jobholder’s portfolio may evolve and flexibility is important. In the areas of her/his responsibility, s/he will also be asked to provide analytical inputs on a regular basis for the EU to better align its assistance to Syria to the evolution of the post Assad regime in line with EU political priorities and ensure donor coordination in the sector and in primis with EU Member States. |
| CONTACT | Libor [dot] CHLAD Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-SYRIA-RECRUITMENT Please indicate your CAST Application ID in your application and mention the post number in subject line. Security Clearance is compulsory for all EU Staff in delegations and has to be requested by selected candidate before departure. |
| DEADLINE | 15 July 2025 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG MENA.A3 Economic Analysis, Business Development and Financial Instruments |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG III |
| TITLE | Policy Assistant – Financial Instruments |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 470061 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Provides thematic expertise and input to policy dialogue and programming assistance to geographical units of DG NEAR and EU Delegations on socio-economic matters. Areas of expertise: Trade. Private sector development and engagement (Task Force).Overall coordination of the thematic facilities managed by the Unit. |
| CONTACT | Fulvio CAPURSO - Fulvio [dot] capurso Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: MENA-A3 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 04 July 2025 |
| ENTITY | Brussels – DG MENA.B3 Economic Cooperation, incl. Support for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Programme Manager - Sector of Inclusive Economy focused on support to MSMEs/SMEs |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 469849 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the supervision of an Official or Temporary Agent, design, formulate and implement regional programmes in the partner countries covered by DG MENA and provide thematic advice to colleagues across DG MENA -and EU Delegations- on inclusive economic development (specifically on issues such as MSME/SME development, entrepreneurship, innovation, financial inclusion) including, with the support of MENA.A3, through blending and guarantees under the EFSD. |
| CONTACT | Guillaume FINE - Guillaume [dot] FINE Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to MENA-B3 (Please indicate your CAST candidate number in your application and mention the post number in subject line). |
| DEADLINE | 07 July 2025 |