European Fast Stream

Join the European Fast Stream, and you could end up working for the EU as one of its own civil servants.

For your first two years in the Fast Stream, you will be given EU-related postings, and will have the chance to work in the European Commission for six months. You could be working on EU policy in the FCO, on environmental issues at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) or even the offi ce of an EU Commissioner in Brussels. All this is designed to improve your chances of success in the competitions for permanent posts in the EU institutions.

You will also have language training in French or German.

If you are not successful in the EU’s recruitment competition, you can remain in the UK Civil Service as a Fast Streamer and undertake a full range of Fast Streamer roles with real intellectual appeal.

Last updated - 6th November 2009

The EFS is an option designed for people whose ultimate ambition is to work for one of the EU institutions and become an EU civil servant. We will give you work experience and training to help boost your chances of passing the EU's demanding recruitment competition (known as the concours). For your first two years, you will be based in a Department with significant EU-related responsibilities, such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, or the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. You will be given EU-related postings, and will also have the chance to work in the European Commission for six months on an internship. Your training will include intensive coaching in French or German, as you will take much of the concours in one of those languages.

As a European Fast Streamer, and afterwards as a European civil servant, you could influence policy on an EU-wide scale, for example by working to tackle climate change or combat terrorism. You might be personally involved in the EU's programme of aid to developing countries, or formulating policy on sustainable energy or integrated transport. Whatever your personal interests or concerns, there is scope to pursue them in the EU institutions, whose work covers all walks of life. You could even work in the private office of an EU Commissioner.

After two years, if you have not been successful in the EU’s recruitment competition, you will remain in the UK Civil Service as a Fast Streamer, but will then be expected to move the focus of your work into different areas of your department's responsibilities. Of course, you will also have the opportunity to take the concours after that date and may well be successful on a later attempt.

Special requirements

To be eligible for the European Fast Stream, you must have French or German to at least A-level (A - C) standard or equivalent. You must also undertake to enter all EU competitions for which you are eligible during your time on the scheme. For further information on careers in the EU institutions, visit their website http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm