The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) is an international organisation which monitors compliance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling those States to participate in the Internal Market of the European Union.
ESA's work helps remove barriers to trade and open up new opportunities to over 450 million Europeans, creating jobs and growth and adding to the international competitiveness of the States.
ESA currently employs staff members of 22 different nationalities from across the EEA. Based in Brussels, ESA is collocated within the EFTA House with its sister organisations the EFTA Secretariat and the EEA and Norway Grants (FMO).
ESA is led by a College of three members, appointed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It is divided into the following departments: Administration, Internal Market Affairs Directorate, Competition and State Aid Directorate and Legal and Executive Affairs Department.
Legal Junior Professionals 2026/27
The EFTA Surveillance Authority’s (ESA) Junior Professionals Programme is a unique opportunity for recent graduates to launch their careers in an international environment. Over 11 months you will live and work in Brussels, and gain hands-on experience in international affairs by supporting ESA’s mission of monitoring and enforcing the EEA Agreement.
Through structured mentoring and guidance from leading experts, you will develop and sharpen your skills while contributing to an organisation that helps ensure a fair and well-functioning Internal Market across the EEA, benefiting citizens and businesses in over 450 million Europeans. The programme offers a unique chance to learn, collaborate, and grow in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary international team.
Three individual paths within ESA
As a Junior Professional, you will work closely with experienced officers and legal experts in one of the three Directorates/ Department of your choice: Competition and State Aid (CSA), Internal Market Affairs (IMA), or Legal and Executive Affairs (LEA).
CSA is responsible for enforcing the competition and state aid provisions of the EEA Agreement, as well as regulatory oversight in the electronic communications sector. The team handles antitrust and state aid investigations, working closely with the European Commission and national authorities.
IMA monitors the implementation and application of Internal Market rules in the EEA EFTA States. The Directorate’s work supports the functioning of the four freedoms and covers a wide range of policy areas, including labour law, environment, transport, financial services, food and veterinary matters, and digital regulation, ensuring compliance with the EEA Agreement.
LEA ensures legal consistency across ESA’s decisions and represents the Authority in litigation before the EFTA Court. The Directorate also advises on access to documents, institutional matters and procedural issues, working closely with both CSA and IMA.
Role Description
As a Junior Professional, your main tasks include:
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Assisting in legal drafting and analysis related to ESA’s casework and decisions
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Conducting legal and policy research on national and EU/EEA legislation
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Supporting the handling of cases, including the assessment of compliance with the EEA Agreement
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Contributing to written reports, briefings and correspondence with the European Commission, EEA EFTA States and other stakeholders
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Participating in internal and external meetings, hearings and working groups
Essential Skills
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Applicants must be nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. Exceptionally, EU and EFTA nationals who can demonstrate close links with Liechtenstein may also be considered.
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Applicants should have completed or expect to complete a master’s degree in law prior to 1 September 2026
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Interest in the EEA, its institutions, and the cooperation between EEA EFTA States and the EU
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Excellent command of written and spoken English, the working language of ESA
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Strong legal research and drafting skills, with a solid knowledge of EEA law and institutions
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Ability to analyse complex legal and regulatory issues with a high level of accuracy
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Engaged, proactive and well-organised, able to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team
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Ability to work in a dynamic and multi-disciplinary international environment
Other information
The Junior Professionals Programme at ESA is a paid position. Junior Professionals receive:
- A monthly allowance of 2,005.18 EUR
- A furnished, private studio in Brussels
- Utility and internet costs covered, and a mobile phone provided
- Health, life, invalidity, and travel insurance
- Reimbursement of travel costs upon taking up and leaving the Programme
- An allowance for language training costs
Tax conditions are favourable.
For more insight into the Programme, click here.
In the interests of ensuring that the Junior Professional positions are open to as wide a group of individuals as possible, current and former Junior Professionals of the EFTA Secretariat/Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) will not be eligible to apply for ESA Junior Professional positions. Current and former Trainees of the EFTA Court will, however, be eligible to apply in light of the short-term nature of traineeships in the Court as compared with those in the Secretariat/FMO.
Application procedure:
For any questions regarding the Junior Professionals Programme, please contact the HR team at esa_hr@eftasurv.int.
Application Timeline
- Deadline for applications: 15 February 2026 (midnight CET)
- Tests and remote interviews: mid-February to end of March 2026
- Notification to successful and unsuccessful applicants: by mid-April 2026
- Onboarding: from mid-April 2026
Start date: 1 September 2026