- 1. What is the basic technical requirement?
Candidates must be civil servants from the Western Balkans, working at central level government institutions, with the exception of Bosnia Herzegovina and Serbia, where applications from civil servants from entity and cantonal level government in BiH and regional level government of Vojvodina in Serbia are also accepted.
Applications from candidates in political positions will NOT be accepted.
- 2. When choosing a host country, what should I pay attention to?
-Your primary criterion when choosing a host country (one out of the 12 choices of EU countries given) should be the host institution which you would target within that country – an institution that is compatible with your own and would offer you the best possible working experience which you can then transfer back home.
Although knowledge of the host language is not a requirement, choosing a country whose language you already have some basis in, would greatly enhance your traineeship experience.
- 3. When choosing a host institution, what should I pay attention to?
In choosing your host institution, you should try to be as concrete as possible. The host institution should be one that is compatible to your own home institution and would offer you the best possible working experience, skills and knowledge which you can then transfer to your daily work and colleagues back home. If you cannot decide on a concrete host institution, then stating your field of interest would be sufficient.
- 4. Do I contact the host institution before applying for the Fellowship?
It is not a requirement to list a contact person in the host institution. Contact is listed only in situations where you already had some previous interaction with the chosen institution and consider them open to accepting you as a trainee. However, if you do not have such previous experience you should not contact the host institution on your own. Placement will be arranged by the EFB once you have been accepted as a Fellow.
- 5. What is the selection process for the Fellowship?
The technical evaluation of all applications as well as the selection of candidates for interviews is done by the EFB. There are on average 40 candidates selected for interviews each year, which are held in Belgrade and in Skopje each year. Each candidate selected for an interview is informed at least one week in advance. The final selection is done by a Selection Committee and candidates are informed if they have been accepted to the Programme by the beginning of November.
- 6. What are the dynamics of the Programme, once I have been selected?
Once each candidate has been selected, the EFB works on placement of the candidate in the chosen host institution. The Fellow has an opportunity to re-evaluate the 3 choices listed in the initial application.
It is extremely important that each Fellow should be prepared for placement in any of the 3 final choices given by him/her. The final placement in the host institution is made on a case-by case basis taking into consideration the preferences outlined by the Fellow, his/her profile, professional interests, language skills and the strategic interests of the employer.
Once the placement has been secured, each Fellow is responsible for arranging a maximum of 2 months language training in his/her home country, prior to departure, which is financially covered by the EFB.
The Fellow should count on being absent from his/her home institution from beginning of April to beginning of July of the current Programme cycle.
- 7. Who covers my living costs, as well as Seminar costs?
Each Fellow receives a monthly stipend – for April, May, June and a onetime re-allocation fee. All travel, meals and accommodation as well as necessary Programme costs for the duration of the 3 Seminars are covered by EFB.
