Jobs in Belgium

The Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA 2006) is a modern and comprehensive regional free trade agreement, designed as an integral part of the pre-accession agenda. It provides a strong legal basis for policy formulation and implementation in key areas related to trade and investment. In addition to an ambitious agenda facilitating trade in goods and services, CEFTA is developing activities aimed at improving the overall framework in trade-related areas, such as competition, state aid, intellectual property rights, and consumer protection, among others.

The CEFTA Parties have agreed on an ambitious agenda to create a Common Regional Market based on the European Union (EU) rules and best practices.

Building on the progress made in the past four years, the Western Balkans leaders adopted on 14 October 2024, a new Common Regional Market Action Plan for 2025-2028, which sets the direction for enhancing trade, mobility, and investment across the region and integration with the EU Single Market. The new four-year plan is divided into 6 pillars, out of which 3 pillars are to be implemented by CEFTA: free movement of goods, free movement of services, and horizontal trade measures. The Plan aims to unlock the potential of the region by boosting trade, investment, and opening the door for accelerated integration into the EU Single Market.

The Secretariat of CEFTA 2006 was established in Brussels, Belgium, in September 2008. The overall role of the Secretariat is to provide technical and administrative support to the Joint Committee, Chair in Office, and to the bodies established by the Joint Committee.

A specially appointed Selection Committee is now seeking applications for the position of Trade Expert on Customs.

The Secretariat of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA 2006) was established in Brussels, Belgium, on 8 September 2008.

The Secretariat supports the Joint Committee and all the CEFTA Bodies established by the Joint Committee, in accordance with the mandate of the Secretariat. The CEFTA Parties and the European Commission currently finance the Secretariat and its activities.

The CEFTA Joint Committee in recent years has agreed on an ambitious agenda to further contribute to economic growth. This includes additional liberalisation and trade facilitation, as well as advancing investment-related issues outlined in the Agreement.

CEFTA plays an important role in delivering the regional economic integration agenda in line with the CEFTA Agreement, and other activities set in the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2025-2028 and each year translated in annual chairmanship priorities and working programmes of the CEFTA Bodies. CEFTA activities have three important pillars: trade in goods (free movement of goods), trade in services (free movement of services), and horizontal trade measures which are relevant for both goods and services. These include, but are not limited to: trade dispute settlement, competition, state aid, public procurement, statistics, trade-related aspects of environmental policies and intellectual property rights, and transparency.

Furthermore, the CEFTA Secretariat plays an important role in securing and managing additional financing for the functioning of the Secretariat and for CEFTA-related activities. To date, the Secretariat has secured substantial funding under the EC’s IPA programme. Much of these funds are used to provide technical assistance and targeted expertise to assist the CEFTA Parties implement the Agreement and the various decisions of the Joint Committee. Thus, the Secretariat has an important role to play in the project management of technical assistance activities.

As the number of CEFTA structures has expanded, so too has the scope of the work programme. The Secretariat has adapted accordingly to support this broader mandate. In line with the Joint Committee Decision No. 10/2024 Amending Decision 1/2018 on the Functioning of the Secretariat, the core team of the CEFTA Secretariat is comprised of a Director, Trade Experts, and administrative staff. Since July 2015, the Secretariat has also benefited from a rotating system of secondments from the CEFTA Parties, which continues to this day.

Under the mandate of the CEFTA Secretariat, the Trade Expert on Customs will support the implementation of customs-related provisions of CEFTA 2006 and Joint Committee Decisions, with a strong focus on alignment with EU standards. The role will contribute to the development and operationalisation of frameworks in customs cooperation, rules of origin, VAT harmonisation, and trade facilitation measures, while fostering coordination among CEFTA Parties and international partners to advance regional trade integration.

• Policy Implementation and Technical Expertise

  • Support the implementation of customs-related provisions under CEFTA 2006, Additional Protocol 5, and Joint Committee Decisions, including measures on simplification of procedures, electronic data exchange, and risk management.

  • Provide technical expertise in the development, review, and implementation of CEFTA customs and tax cooperation frameworks, with particular emphasis on AEO (Authorised Economic Operator) mutual recognition, rules of origin, and alignment with the EU VAT e-commerce package.

  • Contribute to the design and harmonisation of customs facilitation measures that promote regional regulatory convergence and alignment with EU customs standards.

• Coordination of CEFTA Structures

  • Serve as Secretary to the CEFTA Subcommittee on Customs and Rules of Origin, including preparation of background materials, non-papers, discussion papers, annotated agendas, draft minutes, reports, and follow-up notes for Chairs.

  • Support the functioning of the CEFTA Advisory Body for Customs Cooperation on Tariff Classification and Rules of Origin by providing technical inputs, facilitating dialogue, and ensuring proper documentation and follow-up.

  • Set and coordinate policy objectives for customs cooperation within the CEFTA framework, contributing to the Annual Chairmanship Priorities and Work Programmes of CEFTA Bodies.

• Regional Integration related activities

  • Support implementation of customs-related actions under the Common Regional Market Action Plan through CEFTA Committees, Subcommittees, and Working Groups.

  • Facilitate the exchange of information between CEFTA Bodies and authorities to ensure consistent follow-up and timely implementation of customs-related measures.

  • Identify practical measures and pilot activities to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance interoperability of customs systems, and promote regulatory convergence in customs and trade facilitation.

• Policy Development and Documentation

  • Develop analytical and policy documents, including needs assessments, background materials, draft Joint Committee decisions, and discussion papers on customs and related fields.

  • Lead consultations and coordinate the policy adoption process, ensuring that agreed decisions are translated into actionable implementation plans.

  • Collaborate closely with partner organisations and technical experts to ensure coherence of customs-related policies with broader trade facilitation frameworks.

• Stakeholder Engagement and External Relations

  • Coordinate and facilitate technical meetings, workshops, and seminars on customs-related issues, ensuring effective delivery of outcomes.

  • Engage actively with donors and international partners in trade facilitation and customs, including the European Commission, EU Member States, EFTA, ITC, WTO, WCO, OECD, World Bank, Transport Community, and GIZ.

  • Represent CEFTA in external meetings, conferences, and working groups relevant to customs cooperation and trade facilitation.

• Reporting and Project Support

  • Contribute inputs to annual reports of CEFTA Bodies, regional reports (e.g. CRM Annual Report), reports to the European Commission, and project-related reports in the area of customs and trade facilitation.

  • Manage external contractors and experts by preparing Terms of Reference, evaluating offers, and supervising the delivery of services.

  • Review and approve reports and invoices, ensuring compliance with CEFTA rules, donor requirements, and project specifications.

  • Collaborate with external experts from partner organisations on joint customs-related projects and initiatives.

• Other Duties

  • Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director of the CEFTA Secretariat or the Senior Technical Expert on Trade Facilitation to ensure the Secretariat’s effective functioning.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, political science, law, international trade, or another field relevant to the role;

  • Or alternatively

  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) combined with additional years of relevant professional experience (minimum of 3 extra years beyond the required threshold) may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

• Professional Experience

  • Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in customs policy, customs administration, or customs facilitation, preferably with direct involvement in policy development, procedural simplification, or implementation of customs reforms such as rules of origin, tariff classification, etc.

  • Demonstrated knowledge of international trade agreements, WTO rules, and trade facilitation instruments, with proven practical experience in customs policy and operational practices.

  • Experience in implementing or supporting technical assistance projects financed by the European Union or other international donors (e.g. World Bank, GIZ, UN agencies).

  • Demonstrated ability to liaise effectively with customs administrations and international organisations (e.g. European Commission DG TAXUD, WCO, WTO), including participation in regional or international working groups would be considered an advantage.

  • Prior professional exposure to trade integration processes, EU approximation, or working with administrations in transition or accession contexts would be considered an asset.

  • Experience in drafting policy or technical documents would be considered an asset.

• Technical Skills and Knowledge

  • Languages: Fluency in English at C1 level (written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of one or more CEFTA Party languages is an asset.

  • Customs Expertise: Strong technical knowledge of customs policy and customs facilitation, including risk management, electronic data exchange, AEO programmes, and simplification of customs procedures.

  • Trade Facilitation: General knowledge of related trade facilitation measures, such as BCP/CCP agency cooperation, transit systems, and single window approaches.

  • Institutional Familiarity: Understanding of the functioning of public institutions, customs administrations, etc.

  • Regional and International Frameworks: Familiarity with CEFTA’s institutional framework, agreements, and protocols, as well as with the work of the European Commission (DG TAXUD, DG TRADE) and relevant international organisations (WTO, WCO, OECD).

  • Analytical and Drafting Skills: Ability to draft high-quality technical and policy documents, including drafting decisions, non-papers, and technical guidelines.

  • Digital Tools: Proficiency with IT tools relevant to customs and trade facilitation (e.g. risk management systems, electronic certification platforms, customs IT systems) and strong command of MS Office and collaborative platforms.

• Soft Skills

  • Result orientation – consistently aligns actions with the secretariat’s mission, delivers timely and quality work, demonstrates perseverance and initiative, seeks to add value, operates independently while recognizing personal limitations, and remains resilient under stress.

  • Working with people – demonstrates proactive communication and knowledge sharing within the team, consistently treats colleagues with respect, offers support, addresses issues openly, avoids non-constructive behaviours, and celebrates team achievements.

  • Planning and organising – strategically plans and organises tasks based on objectives, considering timelines, contingencies, and others’ workloads, while setting clear standards and adhering to internal principles and procedures.

  • Integrity – prioritizes the organisation’s interests over individual or unit interests, promotes fairness, upholds the secretariat’s image externally, adopts a constructive approach in conflicts, and maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.

  • Communication – effectively communicates by presenting information clearly and concisely, simplifying complex topics, actively listening for understanding, and adapting messages based on the audience’s feedback, all while emphasizing key points.

  • Learning and development – actively recognizes and addresses personal knowledge and skill gaps, seeks out feedback and adjusts behaviour accordingly, continuously pursues professional growth, and capitalizes on lessons learned to inform future actions.

  • Diplomacy – demonstrates empathy towards stakeholders’ perspectives, approaches delicate issues with tact, maintains composure in challenging situations, seeks collaborative and mutually beneficial outcomes, and exhibits flexibility in pursuit of shared goals.

  • Operational management – strategically aligns team objectives with the secretariat’s goals, assigns clear roles and SMART goals, communicates the purpose behind objectives, considers individual strengths and workloads in task allocation, establishes and monitors KPIs, and ensures quality delivery.

  • Leading people – exemplifies desired behaviours, aligns tasks with individual motivations, establishes clear performance expectations and criteria, rewards positive behaviours, addresses issues proactively, and supports team members while considering their individual needs.

  • Analytical thinking – effectively analyses complex information and problems, foresees solution impacts, innovates with creative solutions, applies analogical thinking to practical scenarios, and proactively identifies and mitigates potential risks or issues.

• The place of employment is Brussels, and the position is based on a 40-hour work week. The role requires approximately 30% travel.

• The monthly salary for this post (regular employee) is paid on a basis of 13.92 months per year. The salary is subject to Belgian social security contributions (with potential opting-out) and taxes. The minimum gross salary is EUR 5,991 per month (equivalent to EUR 83,400).

• The salary is supplemented with a competitive benefits package.

• Employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave per year, plus 1 additional day per month worked, and 10 official public holidays observed in Belgium and the ones observed by the European Commission.

• The position allows for telework, subject to organisational needs and based on prior approval of the Director of the CEFTA Secretariat.

• The type and duration of the contract is a fixed-term contract of 3 years, with the possibility of a one-time extension for up to 3 additional years, based on the needs of the service and availability of funds. The exact duration of any extension will be determined according to the respective ministerial decision.

• All new staff must successfully complete a 6-month probationary period.

• The Secretariat is an equal opportunities employer.

Applications must be received by the CEFTA Secretariat no later than the deadline specified in this vacancy notice. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Receipt of all applications will be confirmed by an email acknowledgment.

The Director of the CEFTA Secretariat will establish a Selection Committee, chaired by the Director and composed of a representative of the Secretariat and a representative of a contracted HR agency.

The Selection Committee will assess the applications received to make an initial selection of candidates who meet all eligibility criteria. The Committee will examine the qualifications, experience, and skills of these candidates against the selection criteria set out in the vacancy notice.

The Selection Committee will invite a shortlist of the 5 highest scoring candidates, who also meet the minimum requirements outlined in the vacancy notice, to the next phase. All candidates with a score equal to the 5th highest scoring candidate will also be included in the list of invited candidates.

The final evaluation will consist of technical and competency-based interviews, written technical test and psychometric assessments. This evaluation will be conducted to assess the candidates’ experience, qualifications, and whether they possess the key skills required for the role.

After the selection procedure, the Selection Committee will identify a suitable candidate.

The selected candidate will be informed by the CEFTA Secretariat.

An application form is available at:

• Download Application Form

Eligible applicants include individuals from public administrations, international organisations, the private sector, civil society, and academia. The successful candidate will be offered a competitive employment contract by the CEFTA Secretariat.

Interested candidates should upload a completed application form as provided below (both in English).

The deadline for receipt of applications is 23:59h (CET), 30 October 2025. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.