European Parliament urges action as EU traineeships talks continue

Negotiators from the European Parliament, EU member states and the European Commission will meet on Wednesday for a trilogue aimed at advancing legislation to improve conditions for trainees across Europe.

The proposed law seeks to ensure that more than three million trainees receive pay, rights and protection. At present, about half of them work without pay.

The Socialists and Democrats group, which has long called for a ban on unpaid traineeships, said it wants negotiations to maintain a high level of ambition and deliver meaningful results for young Europeans. The European Parliament said it remains committed to securing real improvements through the legislation.

The group also backed a European trade unions’ initiative calling for stronger commitments on quality traineeships across the bloc.

Alicia Homs, the Parliament’s rapporteur on traineeships, said the talks come at a “crucial moment” in a complex negotiation.

“We are not yet at a point of agreement, but the discussions are clearly entering a more decisive phase,” she said, calling for “genuine engagement from all sides.”

Homs said the Parliament would continue to push for a “meaningful and balanced agreement,” adding that young people have too often been treated as “cheap, disposable labour.”

“Work is work,” she said. “Young people cannot afford to work for free.”

She urged EU governments and employers to take responsibility, saying fair traineeships are essential for decent living conditions and future careers.

Data from Eurobarometer and Eurostat show that nearly 80% of Europeans aged 18 to 35 complete a traineeship, while almost half receive no pay. More than half undertake at least two traineeships, and nearly one-third say a lack of pay prevents them from gaining work experience.

The issue has been compounded by living costs, with the average young European spending about €1,200 per month, while most traineeships fail to cover basic expenses.

Efforts to regulate traineeships have been underway for several years. The European Parliament adopted a report on quality traineeships in June 2023, followed by a legislative proposal from the European Commission in March 2024 under then jobs commissioner Nicolas Schmit.

EU member states set their position in June 2025, though the Socialists and Democrats criticized it as insufficient, saying it excludes around 75% of trainees and lacks key protections. The Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate in October 2025, and trilogue talks began the following month.

Parliament’s position includes a ban on unpaid traineeships, broader coverage, minimum rights across the EU, and stronger standards on pay, social protection and duration, along with safeguards against discrimination and abuse.