Internships at the Institute for European Environmental Policy Location: Brussels DL: 15 October 2011

Internship in Global Issues and External Action Programme: Autumn 2011
Location: IEEP’s Brussels office
Duration: 3 months to 1 year (starting middle of October 2011 or earlier if possible), although the exact length is negotiable.
Salary and expenses: Unsalaried placement with local travel and lunch expenses paid (€7/day).
IEEP is a leading centre for the analysis, understanding and advancement of environmental and related policies in Europe. We undertake work for a wide range of clients on cutting edge policy research. Further information about IEEP is available from our website (www.ieep.eu).
We currently have one internship vacancy in Brussels within the IEEP Global Issues and External Action Programme, to contribute to a range of research projects on EU external policies and action in the area of environmental protection and sustainable development.
IEEP and its Internship Programme
The IEEP internship programme aims to provide staff with assistance for research, administration and information, to give interns valuable work experience, and to develop relations with university research departments.
Interns should expect to gain exposure to current European and global policy issues and processes and the working methods of a small independent research institute. While a portion of the internship is likely to be administrative in nature, IEEP recognises that most interns will want to undertake substantive research. Thus interns are also given ample opportunity to assist in research projects, attend meetings with IEEP research staff and contribute to IEEP’s information and advisory services, where appropriate.
Internships are flexible and may be performed on an independent basis, as part of an academic requirement, in conjunction with an internship programme, etc.
Internship Job Description
The IEEP Global Issues and External Action Programme works on a variety of projects on global environmental issues and the external environmental policy of the EU, with a focus on the EU’s participation in the negotiation and implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and in global policy processes, such as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development scheduled to be held in Brazil in June 2012 (Rio+20).
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The successful internship applicant would work on the following tasks:
- Work on a project on evaluating policy options for EU implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) for Genetic Resources, which will account for a major share of the internship’s time. Specific tasks would primarily involve assisting with the collection of quantitative and qualitative information through literature searches and providing written summaries of research, which will feed into an interim report and final report due respectively at the end of 2011 and in February 2012.
- Support to the organisation of a series of lunchtime events within the framework of the IEEP-IES Environmental Policy Forum, including participants from European institutions, EU Member States’ public authorities, the private sector and other stakeholders.
- Ad-hoc support to ongoing work of the programme on issues related to the preparatory process of Rio+20, the multilateral climate change negotiations, and the EU’s role in the implementation of regional MEAs in Europe, including following key discussion processes and providing written summaries of key papers and documents.
Interns are normally asked to work at least half time (2 ½ days/week) in accordance with a work schedule to be agreed in advance; however, consideration would also be given to applicants wishing to work full time.
During the internship period, interns are covered by IEEP’s workplace accident insurance, covering accidents at work and between home and work. This is not general health or property insurance.
Person Specification
Interested applicants should ideally:
- hold, or be working towards, a degree or equivalent in European affairs, EU or international law, environmental policy, or related subjects;
- have a demonstrated interest in environmental policies;
- have initiative and be flexible with regard to the tasks they may be asked to complete;
- be capable of working independently;
- be a good communicator – written and orally;
- have good organisational skills;
- be reliable and capable of paying close attention to detail; and
- have good computing skills.
IEEP’s Brussels Office operates primarily in English, therefore fluent English, both oral and written, is essential.
For this internship, advanced language skills in French are considered a key asset.
Applicants should send a short letter of motivation, a CV and an acknowledgement that the position is unpaid, preferably by email to mpallemaerts@ieep.eu, or in a sealed envelope addressed to: Dr Marc Pallemaerts, Head of the Global Issues and External Action
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Programme, IEEP, Quai au Foin 55, 1000 Brussels. The email/envelope should be clearly marked: ‘GIEA Intern Autumn 2011’.
All applications must reach us by 15 October 2011 at the latest. Interviews might be held thereafter by telephone or face-to-face in the IEEP office in Brussels.
Due to anticipated interest in the post, we may unfortunately not always be able to reply to unsuccessful applicants.
IEEP strives to be an equal opportunities employer and undertakes that there shall be no discrimination in employment policies or working conditions on grounds of race, ethnic origin, gender, disability, religious or other belief, sexual orientation, marital status or age.