The European External Action Service (EEAS) supports the work of the High Representative in defining and implementing an effective and coherent EU foreign policy. The EEAS is responsible for the running of EU Delegations and Offices around the world.

Both the EEAS Headquarters and the Delegations offer posts for contract agents.

For contract agent posts in Headquarters

  • Nationals from EU Member States
  • Candidates who have succeeded an EPSO CAST (competition for contract agents) in a function group that is valid for the post. 
  • Candidates registered in the PERMANENT CAST launched by EPSO in January 2017 in a function group that is valid for the post.

As requirements for vacant posts in the EEAS can vary, please read the eligibility criteria specified in each vacancy announcement.

For contract agent posts in the Delegations

  • Nationals from EU Member States
  • Candidates who succeeded an EPSO CAST competition (full CAST tests comprising of reasoning tests and competency tests or talent screener and competency tests) in a function group that is valid for the post. 
  • Candidates registered in the PERMANENT CAST launched by EPSO in January 2017 in a function group that is valid for the post.

New under PERMANENT CAST!

  • If a candidate successfully passes the reasoning tests, his/her results remain valid for 10 years for any profiles in the same or lower function groups.
  • If a candidate succeeds the competency tests, his/her results remain valid for 5 years, also for lower function groups of the same profile, if applicable.
  • Please be aware that some vacant posts are filled within the EEAS mobility process, with contract agents who are already jobholders in a Delegation or at EEAS Headquarters (HQ).

How to apply

Please send your application and CV to the contact point mentioned in the vacancy announcement. It is also from the contact point that you can obtain further information about the vacancy.  

Selection procedure

  • For posts at HQ, the selection procedure is organised by the Division concerned.
  • For posts in Delegations, the selection procedure is organised by the Delegation concerned, except for Regional Security Advisers (RSA) and Regional Security Officers (RSO) as well as administrative assistants and Heads of Administration posts, for which the selection process is organised at HQ.

The selection panel makes a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter, and produces a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria. The candidates who have been preselected are invited for an interview. The panel recommends a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment (AECC) - the Head of Division Selection and Recruitment.  The AECC may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist, before taking the final decision and launching the recruitment.

For all posts in Delegations and some posts at EEAS Headquarters successful candidates are required to undergo security vetting if they do not already hold security clearance to an appropriate level, in accordance with the relevant security provisions.

Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as implemented by ADMIN(2019)8 decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The privacy statement is available on the Europa website and on the EEAS Intranet.

EEAS Privacy statement - Data protection notice for the purpose of processing personal data related to selection, recruitment and administrative management of contract agents (CAs) at the EEAS Headquarters

EEAS Privacy statement - Data protection notice for the purpose of processing personal data related to selection, recruitment and administrative management of contract agents (CAs) in EU Delegations

See vacant contract agent posts at EEAS Headquarters and Delegations