Breakthrough in European Parliament: vocational students now welcome as interns

After considerable pressure and patience, it's finally here: vocational students can now intern at the European Parliament. Along with MEP Mohammed Chahim (GreenLeft-Labour Party) from Helmond, student Nisreen Hakrash of Summa Business Services in Eindhoven has been pushing the parliament for the past few months. Nisreen is enthusiastic about the news that it's finally been finalized: "What wonderful news. And how wonderful for all vocational students who want to intern at the European Parliament in Brussels that it's finally possible."

Chaim put the topic on the European agenda back in 2022. The breakthrough to amend the rules came this week after the parliamentary board approved it. "We represent all citizens here in Parliament, so everyone should have equal opportunities to gain experience in the European Parliament," said Mohammed Chahim. "The fact that vocational students have been excluded until now is a systemic flaw that I've been calling attention to for years. It's fantastic that we've now been able to change this."

In 2022, Chahim, along with vocational students, raised the alarm with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Despite their urgent letter failing to receive a formal response, he persevered. Earlier this year, the GroenLinks-PvdA delegation applied to the Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education and Business (SBB) for recognition as a vocational training company, a significant symbolic and practical step forward.

After this recognition, Chahim began searching for a suitable candidate. Twenty-year-old vocational student Nisreen Hakrash from Summa College in Eindhoven successfully applied for an internship with the GroenLinks-PvdA delegation, but unfortunately, ran into problems due to European regulations that only admit students with a completed university degree. Several media outlets reported on this, which again put pressure on the parliament's board.

This week, the final hurdle was cleared: at Chahim's request, the so-called Quaestors and the parliamentary board decided to amend the rules. This means that European internships will now be truly accessible to vocational students from the Netherlands and other EU countries with similar education systems.

Although Nisreen Hakrash couldn't complete her planned internship earlier this year, she can still come to Brussels soon as an intern. "It's thanks to her story that this ultimately became a structural breakthrough for vocational students across Europe," says Chahim. "Vocational students bring practical experience and much-needed professional knowledge – exactly what Europe needs."