Connecting Europe Fellowship 2026 at European Policy Centre (EPC)
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 28
- 3 min read
If you are an emerging researcher or professional from an EU enlargement country, the call for applications for the Connecting Europe Fellowship 2026 is now open. This is the perfect opportunity to deepen your research, engage directly with policy-making in Brussels and bring your region’s voice into Europe’s future debates.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Host institution: European Policy Centre (EPC) via its Connecting Europe project
Programme type: Early- to mid-career fellowship (research stay) rather than a formal degree.
Target group: Two fellows drawn from EU enlargement / candidate countries (Western Balkans, Turkey, Eastern Neighbourhood) working in think tanks, NGOs, universities or civil society.
Fields of focus: Intersection of EU enlargement with policy fields such as rule of law & democratic resilience; Green Deal & climate policy; digital transformation & data governance; foreign policy & strategic alignment.
Value & coverage: Mobility grant of €2,500/month for three months; travel costs to/from Brussels covered.
Duration: 3-month fellowship period in Brussels (between February and December 2026).
Application deadline: 4 December 2025.
📚 Fellowship Overview
The Connecting Europe Fellowship invites you to spend three months in Brussels working at EPC, undertaking an independent research project that lies at the crossroads of EU policy and enlargement. During your stay you will:
be integrated into the EPC’s wider work on your selected theme, gaining insight into how a Brussels-based think tank operates.
access a dedicated working space at the EPC office in Brussels.
conduct your own policy-oriented research, culminating in a policy paper with practical recommendations for the EU and your home region.
engage with Brussels-based stakeholders and decision-makers, benefit from peer learning, networking and ongoing engagement beyond the fellowship.
The fellowship is supported by the Connecting Europe project (funded by Stiftung Mercator) which has built a network of 65+ civil society / think-tank partners across Europe and is driven by the motto “Thinking Enlarged”.
💲 Benefits
Monthly grant of €2,500 to support your living expenses in Brussels, for the full 3 months.
Travel costs to and from Brussels at the start and end of your fellowship period are covered.
Opportunity to publish your policy paper – your research will not just be academic but geared towards practical policy recommendations.
Access to networking opportunities, Brussels-based policymakers, EPC’s events and peer-learning environment.
A working office space at EPC in Brussels and organisational support, including field-work support.
Ongoing engagement beyond the three months: you become part of a broader network and your research could gain visibility.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
You must hold a Master’s degree.
Early- to mid-career researcher or professional (at least 1 year of working experience) from think tanks, NGOs, universities or civil society organisations.
You should be a national or resident of one of the eligible enlargement/candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey or Ukraine.
Strong interest in European affairs, EU enlargement and one of the thematic priorities (rule of law, climate/green deal, digital transformation, foreign policy/strategic alignment).
Excellent written and spoken English.
Your employing organization (if applicable) must support your participation in the fellowship.
Residents of the enlargement countries who are temporarily living abroad may apply, provided their stay abroad is limited.
📝 Application Procedure
Prepare a single PDF file containing:
Your CV (maximum 2 pages) + list of any publications.
A short project proposal (maximum 1,000 words), explaining your intended research and its relevance to both EU policy and your home region.
A letter of motivation, explaining why you are interested in the fellowship and how it fits your background.
Indicate your preferred fellowship period (3 months within February–December 2026) in your email.
Email the PDF to: cv@epc.eu, with subject line formatted exactly as: CEFE_FirstName_LastName. Applications missing this format will not be considered.
Deadline for submission: 4 December 2025.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.
Important: This fellowship is a mobility grant, not an employment contract. It is designed to support your independent research stay in Brussels and does NOT establish an employer-employee relationship with EPC.
The EPC encourages applications from all backgrounds and especially from under-represented groups in Brussels think tanks and civil society.
