The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Interpretation regularly hires freelance interpreters.
To work for the interpreting services of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the European Union, you must first pass a test that will give you accreditation for all three institutions.
Freelancers work on short-term contracts and assignments vary according to demand.
Who can apply?
If you would like to apply to work in one of the EU-language booths, you must:
- have the applicable language profile
- hold a university degree in conference interpreting or have professional experience in conference interpreting, in line with the applicable requirements.
How to apply?
For the most up-to-date information on eligibility criteria, language profiles and indicative schedules for accreditation tests, visit our page on how to work as a freelance interpreter with the EU institutions.
Non-EU languages
Accreditation tests are also organised for certain non-EU languages, but they are not held on a regular basis and depend on the institutions’ needs and priorities.
Accreditation test – simulated test videos
Before applying for and taking a test, you may find it useful to learn how a test is structured by watching a simulated test.
Some of these videos do not reflect the current testing format as tests are now conducted completely online. The videos are being updated to reflect current procedures. However, they can still be useful, as they provide a good overview of how tests work in practice and what is expected of candidates. They also give helpful tips on how you can prepare for the test and approach it in a professional manner.