JOB DESCRIPTION

Legal Officer

in DG BUDG of the European Commission

Job title: Legal officer

Domain: Economy, Finance and Statistics

Where: Unit E.2 – „Financial rules: direct management “, Brussels, Belgium

Function Group: FG IV

Contract Type: 3b

Express your interest until: 15.12.2025 – 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

DG BUDG is responsible for managing the budget of the European Union and plays a central role in achieving the Commission’s political priorities. As domain leader on financial management, DG BUDG has a growing strategic role at the heart of the Commission. Working in DG BUDG is not just about figures, you actually get to see the bigger picture of what is happening across the whole Commission and how the budget contributes to achieving the EU objectives.

Directorate BUDG.E – the Commission’s Central Financial Service – is the lead service for legal matters on the EU budget and its implementation, particularly the Financial Regulation, its application and interpretation. It also promotes the active sharing of knowledge on financial, operational and budgetary matters within DG BUDG and the Commission, as well as with EU institutions, bodies and agencies.

Unit BUDG.E2 “Financial Rules: direct management” has a team of around 20 colleagues. We are responsible for several politically important and sensitive files. We develop and advise on the financial rules for implementing the EU budget, in particular with respect to directly managed EU programmes (research, defence, space, transport, health etc.), EU public procurement, grants, prizes, association agreements of third countries, e-Governance (corporate digitalised contracts and procedures), Brexit legal matters, etc. The unit participates in the drafting, negotiation and interpretation of the Financial Regulation and of other financial rules that apply across sectors and institutions, in particular the sectoral programme regulations under the Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFF). The Unit is intensively involved in the preparation of the post-2027 MFF.

WE PROPOSE

An exciting and diverse position as a Legal Officer in the area of EU budget implementation, one of the Commission’s core responsibilities. You will join a great team of highly motivated and friendly colleagues, and you will be part of the Internal Policies sector. You will work in close contact with the other lawyers of the unit and directorate, the hierarchy, other BUDG units as well as with other services, including the Legal Service.

Functions and duties:

Legal analysis, advice and assistance

Provide legal advice and guidance to the entire EU finance community (Commission and other EU institutions and bodies) on the financial rules under the Financial Regulation and sectoral legislation establishing spending programmes, in particular in the area of directly managed internal EU policies including eGrants.

Draft legal documents such as legislative proposals, contractual templates and guidance notes.

Prepare replies to requests for advice and / or legal interpretation in support of the preparation and implementation of Union legislation.

Improve the quality and consistency of the DG’s output from a legal point of view.

Inter-service coordination and consultation

Provide legal advice in response to inter-service consultations.

Communication and publication

Deliver training on topics under the unit’s portfolio promoting knowledge sharing.

Participate in the design and improvement of training courses, considering feedback from participants.

Contribute to the network of financial units (RUF).

Update and improve the relevant pages of the BUDGpedia website.

Prepare briefings, speeches and presentations for the Commissioner and the senior management.

We offer:

An extensive set of tools to drive your career, including a broad learning and development offer for job specific and soft skills.

Mentoring and on-the-job coaching upon joining DG BUDG.

A friendly and collegial atmosphere where teamwork and flexibility are key to the success of DG.

WE LOOK FOR

A highly motivated and proactive colleague, who is a team player and can demonstrate a strong interest in and ability to contribute to the Unit’s mission. The ideal candidate would have:

The ability to translate complex ideas into clear and concise language.

Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing.

Ability to conceptualise problems and identify solutions.

A good understanding of the legal, financial and operational issues related to the implementation of the EU budget would be an asset. Additionally, knowledge of and/or experience with the management of rules and procedures for implementing the EU budget, in particular directly managed programmes using eGrants and familiarity with the Financial Regulation applicable to the EU budget would be advantageous.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

With a view to guaranteeing equal access to all, the Commission recruits from an open database of spontaneous applications. The present call for interests aims at helping the recruiters to identify potentially interested candidates within this database.

In practice, to express your interest, please follow the subsequent two steps:

If you are not registered yet in the open EPSO database, please do so at the following address: . Please select under selection procedures for contract agent the CAST permanent profile that best suits your education and experience.

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:
1. your CV 2. completed application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to indicating the call for interest reference EC/2025/BUDG/467256/GFIV in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.