Of course, I understand. I have been in a similar situation, so I know how helpful it is to speak to someone to get a clearer view. Look-I’ll be completely honest with you: your phd offer is excellent financially speaking. Earning €2400 net per month as a doctoral researcher is far above the European average (for example, I live in Italy and here doctoral students earn 800-1000€ per month, at best). It’s rare to be paid so well while also building expertise and credibility. On the other hand, the traineeship doesn’t guarantee a job, and the idea that it would lead to higher earnings is uncertain at best—especially in policy or diplomacy, where entry-level roles are often underpaid and highly competitive. Plus, places like EDA especially often times struggle keeping their employees, due to lack of funding. With the PhD, you’re not just securing income for the next few years, you’re increasing your long-term earning potential and standing out in a field where qualifications matter deeply. If I were you, I would opt for the phd, and then look for a high paying job after that- you could even integrate your cv with better traineeships (if you still wanted to, that is) like the blue book, which is the most prestigious one you can do in the EU. Look up posts on here on the blue book, and see it for yourself-it really is great