Eurocities, the network of major European cities, is opening an internship opportunity in the field of Sustainable Governance and Just Transition.
The candidate will start as soon as possible, ideally in February and not later than March, for a duration of 3 – 6 months.
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.
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.
About the project
The sustainable urban governance team has the important function of working across the organisation while lifting the strategic aspects of the broader governance agenda for Eurocities. Thematically, the team is mainly working on the role of cities in EU policymaking, the EU’s urban agenda and urban/multi-level governance, Cohesion Policy, citizens’ engagement, and a fair transition to climate neutrality.
As two key priorities for 2025, the team will work on the annual Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey, which offers an overview of key urban trends, alongside top challenges and priorities facing European mayors. Past editions of the Pulse can be viewed here: Eurocities Pulse: Mayors Survey | 2024 Monitor Eurocities.
Another priority will be advancing our work on just transition, with a key focus on identifying trends and good practices that promote social fairness in the transition to a climate-neutral EU, while increasing co-benefits between social and climate policies.
Responsibilities
You will work as part of the Governance team at the Eurocities Brussels office. In this role, you will:
- Perform desk research on just transition policies and practices implemented at the local level.
- Collect and synthesise good practices from cities.
- Support the evaluation of survey results for the Eurocities Pulse mayors Survey 2025 (data analysis, identifying trends, preparation of simple visual summaries).
- Draft key summaries and policy recommendations.
- Support (online) workshops and meetings on urban governance and just transition topics (organisational aspects, note taking, summaries).
As part of our team, you will:
- Gain concrete insights into the priorities of mayors, urban trends and just transition topics, enhancing your knowledge and practical skills.
- Gain insights on Eurocities research, policy and advocacy work in the above areas.
- Work with colleagues from across Europe, fostering professional development and networking opportunities.
- Join a supportive and engaging workplace in the heart of Brussels.
- Receive reimbursement of public transportation costs in Belgium.
** Based on the skills set and profile of the candidate, more flexible location and working arrangements can be discussed.
Profile
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 or Master student from a University, Business School or equivalent during the entire internship. In the related fields of: Political science, International Relations, Political economy, Economics, Urban Studies.
- Proficiency in English (additional languages are an asset).
- Strong organisational, analytical, writing and communication skills.
- Familiarity with data evaluation tools (proficiency in Excel is sufficient).
- A proactive team player with strong interest in policy work in the EU context.
Assets:
- Previous experience in social and climate/environmental policies.
- Experience in drafting briefing notes, policy summaries and recommendations.
- Familiarity with EU institutions, policies and processes.
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.
What you can expect from Eurocities
- The chance to contribute to impactful projects with support and guidance from managers.
- 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.
How to apply
Applicants are requested to send a letter of motivation, describing their motivation, interest and answering the below question, in two pages maximum, together with a CV, by 12:00 on 15 January to: Patricia de Wouters, People & Operations Director, at jobs.trainees@eurocities.eu.
In your motivation, please answer the following question:
Which 3 policies to promote a just transition at the local level would you prioritize in the context of the new European Union mandate? Please explain your choice.
Some background reading:
Priorities 2024-2029 – European Commission
A fair transition towards climate neutrality
Social Climate Fund – European Commission
Please send the documents in pdf format and mention ‘Internship urban governance’ in the subject line.
Interviews will be held in person or online on the week of 20 January 2025.
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. CV 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.