Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Council

While the EU claims to ensure equal opportunities and treatment in matters of employment, it still allows unpaid traineeships within its institutions. Unpaid traineeships still exist at the European Council and some other EU bodies. Even if undertaken as a part of a degree requirement, these traineeships favour middle- and upper-class young people who can pay their own expenses, which discriminates against those who cannot afford to do so. The support provided, a EUR 125 restaurant card per month, should not be considered remuneration.

Unpaid traineeships are being campaigned against in Member States and the European Parliament has already banned them. Parliament has also called for a reinforcement of the Youth Guarantee and has proposed the creation of a legal instrument to ensure fair remuneration for all traineeships, internships, and apprenticeships. More generally, taking into account the crisis that the pandemic has created for youth employment, action should be taken to prohibit all unpaid traineeships in EU institutions and the Member States. It is up to the EU to lead by example and ban this kind of practice.

Can the European Council therefore answer:

1. Are efforts being made to prohibit unpaid traineeships in the European Council? If not, why?

2. How does the European Council currently ensure good living standards for its unpaid trainees?

Answer given by the European Council

It is not for the Council to comment on the traineeship conditions in the European Council, as the European Council is a separate institution. Notwithstanding the above, it can be noted that there are no unpaid traineeships in the European Council.