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.C.2.DEL.Saudi Arabia.002.95 – Team Cooperation SAUDI ARABIA, Riyadh |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG IV |
| TITLE | Policy Officer |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 473622 Living-conditions allowance:30% |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | Under the authority of the Head of Delegation in Riyadh, and in close coordination with the Heads of Delegation in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait City and Doha, develop and maintain relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) authorities and Gulf-based counterparts, in particular the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as all the other GCC countries, to pursue joint cooperation initiatives in a variety of policy areas of EU interest. In particular: (i) Policy areas including digital and transport, as well as connectivity more broadly, critical raw materials, research and innovation, culture and education, people-to-people exchanges, as well as development policies. Pursue opportunities for triangular cooperation in the broader MENA region (under DG MENA instruction – 50%); and (ii) Humanitarian affairs coordination and policy dialogue (under DG ECHO instruction - 50%). Support EUDs and Headquarters in Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) negotiations, as relevant. Work in coordination with the other policy officers with regional portfolios assigned in EUDs Yemen and UAE. |
| CONTACT | Ms Irina GUSACENKO (irina [dot] gusacenko Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to: DELEGATION-SAUDI-ARABIA-RECRUIT 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 | 4 November 2025 |
Contract Agent Vacancies - Headquarters
| ENTITY | MENA – Unit C.2 - Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen Brussels |
| FUNCTION / GRADE | FG II |
| TITLE | Secretary - Secretary to the members of the Unit / to the Head of Unit |
| VACANCY NOTICE / JOB DESCRIPTION | 469911 |
| OVERALL PURPOSE | To carry out secretarial tasks for Unit MENA C2, to provide general administrative support, including document management, internal communication, organisation of meetings, logistic needs and information provision. The contract agent II position will work for the team members and for the Head of Unit as well as some of the horizontal tasks. |
| CONTACT | Ruta ZARNAUSKAITE (Head of Unit) - Ruta [dot] ZARNAUSKAITE Applications (CV & motivation letter) to be sent to MENA-C2 |
| DEADLINE | 6 November 2025 |