# CA2014060EN.01000101.xml

| 1.3.2014 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CA 60/1 |
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1.3.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 60/1

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GENERAL RULES GOVERNING OPEN COMPETITIONS

GENERAL RULES GOVERNING OPEN COMPETITIONS

(2014/C 60 A/01)

These general rules are an integral part of the competition notice, and together with the notice they constitute the binding framework of the competition procedure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

| 1. | INTRODUCTION |
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1.

| 1.1. | WHAT IS AN OPEN COMPETITION? |
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1.1.

| 1.2. | WHAT IS THE GENERAL PROFILE SOUGHT? |
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1.2.

| 1.3. | ELIGIBILITY |
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1.3.

| 2. | STAGES IN THE COMPETITION |
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2.

| 2.1. | APPLICATION |
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2.1.

| 2.1.1. | Check that you satisfy the eligibility conditions |
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2.1.1.

| 2.1.2. | Create your EPSO account |
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2.1.2.

| 2.1.3. | Try the interactive sample tests proposed |
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2.1.3.

| 2.1.4. | Fill in your online application |
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2.1.4.

| 2.1.5. | Indicate any special arrangements needed for taking tests |
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2.1.5.

| 2.1.6. | Confirm and validate your online application |
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2.1.6.

| 2.1.7. | Submitting a full application file |
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2.1.7.

| 2.2. | COMPUTER-BASED MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTS |
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2.2.

| 2.3. | VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY (ADMISSION) |
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2.3.

| 2.4. | SELECTION BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS — THE TALENT SCREENER |
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2.4.

| 2.5. | ASSESSMENT CENTRE |
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2.5.

| 2.6. | SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES/RESERVE LIST |
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2.6.

| 3. | GENERAL INFORMATION |
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3.

| 3.1. | COMMUNICATION |
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3.1.

| 3.1.1. | EPSO: communication with candidates |
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3.1.1.

| 3.1.2. | Candidates: communication with EPSO |
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3.1.2.

| 3.1.3. | Candidates: communication with selection boards |
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3.1.3.

| 3.2. | DATA PROTECTION |
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3.2.

| 3.3. | ACCESS TO INFORMATION |
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3.3.

| 3.3.1. | Candidates' specific access rights |
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3.3.1.

| 3.3.2. | Access to documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 — Transparency |
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3.3.2.

| 3.4. | COMPLAINTS |
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3.4.

| 3.4.1. | What to do if something goes wrong? |
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3.4.1.

| 3.4.2. | Neutralisation |
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3.4.2.

| 3.4.3. | Internal review procedure |
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3.4.3.

| 3.4.4. | Other forms of contestation |
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3.4.4.

| 3.5. | DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE COMPETITION |
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3.5.

| ANNEX 1 — | EXAMPLES OF QUALIFICATIONS CORRESPONDING, IN PRINCIPLE, TO THOSE REQUIRED BY THE NOTICES OF COMPETITION |
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ANNEX 1 —

| ANNEX 2 — | GENERAL GUIDELINES OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HEADS OF ADMINISTRATION ON THE USE OF LANGUAGES IN EPSO COMPETITIONS |
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ANNEX 2 —

1.   INTRODUCTION

1.1.   WHAT IS AN OPEN COMPETITION?

The European institutions select future officials through open competitions, which involve a series of competitive examinations. The competitions are open to all citizens of the European Union (1) who meet the specified requirements. This procedure gives all candidates a fair chance to demonstrate their abilities and guarantees selection based on merit while observing the principle of equal treatment.

1

Candidates who pass a competition are placed on a reserve list from which the institutions draw recruits as and when they need them. The aim of a competition, then, is not to fill a specific post, but to constitute a reserve pool for recruitment.

A selection board is appointed (2) to select the best candidates in the light of the requirements set out in the competition notice. The board compares the candidates' performance in order to assess their suitability for the duties described in the notice. Its task is not only to evaluate their competencies and aptitudes but also to identify those who are best qualified in terms of merit.

2

Competitions are organised in annual cycles for general job profiles, or on demand for specialised profiles to meet specific needs of the institutions.

1.2.   WHAT IS THE GENERAL PROFILE SOUGHT?

The institutions are looking for candidates who are talented, motivated, and highly qualified in their field, and who can demonstrate the following general competencies:

| Analysis and Problem Solving | Identify the critical facts in complex issues and develop creative and practical solutions |
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| Communicating | Communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing |
| Delivering Quality and Results | Take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard of quality within set procedures |
| Learning and Development | Develop and improve personal skills and knowledge of the organisation and its environment |
| Prioritising and Organising | Prioritise the most important tasks, work flexibly and organise own workload efficiently |
| Resilience | Remain effective under a heavy workload, handle organisational frustrations positively and adapt to a changing work environment |
| Working with Others | Work co-operatively with others in teams and across organisational boundaries and respect differences between people |
| Leadership (for administrators only) | Manage, develop and motivate people to achieve results |

Analysis and Problem Solving

Analysis and Problem Solving

Identify the critical facts in complex issues and develop creative and practical solutions

Communicating

Communicating

Communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing

Delivering Quality and Results

Delivering Quality and Results

Take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard of quality within set procedures

Learning and Development

Learning and Development

Develop and improve personal skills and knowledge of the organisation and its environment

Prioritising and Organising

Prioritising and Organising

Prioritise the most important tasks, work flexibly and organise own workload efficiently

Resilience

Resilience

Remain effective under a heavy workload, handle organisational frustrations positively and adapt to a changing work environment

Working with Others

Working with Others

Work co-operatively with others in teams and across organisational boundaries and respect differences between people

Leadership (for administrators only)

Leadership

Manage, develop and motivate people to achieve results

1.3.   ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to participate in a competition candidates have to meet certain criteria, which are laid down by the competition notice.

In order to be eligible to participate in a competition

Candidates must confirm that they meet all general and specific eligibility conditions defined in the competition notice, and must provide the necessary supporting documents in a full application file when required (usually only at the assessment centre stage unless otherwise specified in the competition notice, see point 2.1.7 below).

General conditions

The general eligibility conditions (3) are common to all competitions. They are the following:

3

| (a) | you must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union (4); |
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(a)

you must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union (4);

4

| (b) | you must enjoy your full rights as a citizen; |
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(b)

you must enjoy your full rights as a citizen;

| (c) | you must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws of military service; |
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(c)

you must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws of military service;

| (d) | you must meet the character requirements for the duties in question. |
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(d)

you must meet the character requirements for the duties in question.

To prove that you hold the required citizenship, you should provide a copy of your passport, identity card or any other official document specifying your citizenship, which must be valid on the closing date for online applications.

citizenship,

must be valid on the closing date

In general no supporting documents are required to prove that you enjoy your full rights as a citizen, or that you have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service. By signing the application form, you declare on your honour that you satisfy these conditions.

Specific conditions

The specific conditions regarding qualifications and professional experience may vary from one competition to another depending on the profile sought, and will be laid down in the competition notice. It is your responsibility to provide the selection board with all the information and documents it needs in order to verify that you fulfil these conditions.

| (a) | Diplomas
   (5)
  and/or certificates attesting successful completion of studies. The selection board will allow for differences between education systems. Examples of the minimum qualifications required for each category can be found in the annex to these general rules and on the EPSO website. However, the competition notice may lay down stricter requirements. Please note: if you studied outside the EU your diploma should be recognised by an official body in one of the EU Member States (e.g. by the Ministry of Education).
  In the case of post-secondary diplomas, include in your online application form as much detail as possible, in particular concerning what subjects you studied and for how long, so that the selection board can assess how relevant your diploma is to the duties described in the competition notice. If you have followed technical or professional training, or attended a further training course or specialisation course, indicate whether it was full-time, part-time, or an evening class, what subjects were covered, and the duration. |
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(a)

Diplomas
   (5)
  and/or certificates attesting successful completion of studies. The selection board will allow for differences between education systems. Examples of the minimum qualifications required for each category can be found in the annex to these general rules and on the EPSO website. However, the competition notice may lay down stricter requirements. Please note: if you studied outside the EU your diploma should be recognised by an official body in one of the EU Member States (e.g. by the Ministry of Education).

Diplomas

5

and/or certificates attesting successful completion of studies

In the case of post-secondary diplomas, include in your online application form as much detail as possible, in particular concerning what subjects you studied and for how long, so that the selection board can assess how relevant your diploma is to the duties described in the competition notice. If you have followed technical or professional training, or attended a further training course or specialisation course, indicate whether it was full-time, part-time, or an evening class, what subjects were covered, and the duration.

| (b) | Professional experience (if required). Your professional experience will be taken into account only if it is relevant to the nature of the duties described in the competition notice. As a general rule, it should also:






  — | constitute genuine and effective work, |
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(b)

Professional experience (if required). Your professional experience will be taken into account only if it is relevant to the nature of the duties described in the competition notice. As a general rule, it should also:

Professional experience (if required).

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constitute genuine and effective work,

| — | be remunerated, |
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—

be remunerated,

| — | involve a subordinate relationship or the supply of a service. |
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—

involve a subordinate relationship or the supply of a service.

Any elements of your professional experience which fall into the categories listed below will be accounted for as follows:

| — | Voluntary work: only paid voluntary work can be taken into account. It must be of comparable intensity (in terms of weekly hours) and duration to a regular job. |
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—

Voluntary work: only paid voluntary work can be taken into account. It must be of comparable intensity (in terms of weekly hours) and duration to a regular job.

Voluntary work:

| — | Traineeships: traineeships will be considered as professional experience if a salary is paid. |
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—

Traineeships: traineeships will be considered as professional experience if a salary is paid.

Traineeships

| — | Compulsory military service: compulsory military service will be taken into account for a period not exceeding the statutory duration of compulsory military service in the Member State of which you are a national. Military service may have been completed before or after the award of the diploma required for admission to the competition. |
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—

Compulsory military service: compulsory military service will be taken into account for a period not exceeding the statutory duration of compulsory military service in the Member State of which you are a national. Military service may have been completed before or after the award of the diploma required for admission to the competition.

Compulsory military service

| — | Maternity/paternity/adoption leave: maternity/paternity/adoption leave will be taken into account if it is covered by an employment contract. If the event (birth or adoption) occurs while you are seeking work, the leave will not be considered as professional experience. |
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—

Maternity/paternity/adoption leave: maternity/paternity/adoption leave will be taken into account if it is covered by an employment contract. If the event (birth or adoption) occurs while you are seeking work, the leave will not be considered as professional experience.

Maternity/paternity/adoption leave:

| — | Doctorate: all doctorates, whether or not they involve remuneration, will be considered as professional experience up to a maximum of 3 years, provided that the doctorate degree was actually obtained. |
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—

Doctorate: all doctorates, whether or not they involve remuneration, will be considered as professional experience up to a maximum of 3 years, provided that the doctorate degree was actually obtained.

Doctorate

| — | Part-time work: part-time work will be calculated pro rata based on the number of hours worked. If, for example, you worked half-time for six months, your experience will be accounted for as three months. |
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—

Part-time work: part-time work will be calculated pro rata based on the number of hours worked. If, for example, you worked half-time for six months, your experience will be accounted for as three months.

Part-time work

pro rata

It is important that you specify in your application form the nature of the duties you performed in as much detail as possible so that the selection board can assess the relevance of your experience for the duties for which you are applying. All the periods of professional activity in question must be covered by the following supporting documents:

| — | references from former and current employer(s) attesting that you have the professional experience required for admission to the competition; the references must state the nature and level of the duties performed, their starting and ending dates, |
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—

references from former and current employer(s) attesting that you have the professional experience required for admission to the competition; the references must state the nature and level of the duties performed, their starting and ending dates,

| — | if you cannot enclose references, photocopies of your employment contract(s) and your first and last pay slips may be supplied, and must be accompanied by a detailed description of the duties performed, |
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if you cannot enclose references, photocopies of your employment contract(s) and your first and last pay slips may be supplied, and must be accompanied by a detailed description of the duties performed,

| — | in the case of non-salaried work (e.g. self-employed, liberal professions), invoices or order forms detailing the work performed or any other relevant official supporting documents may be accepted as evidence, |
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—

in the case of non-salaried work (e.g. self-employed, liberal professions), invoices or order forms detailing the work performed or any other relevant official supporting documents may be accepted as evidence,

| — | in the case of competitions for conference interpreters, where professional experience is required, documents will be taken into consideration only if they show that the experience relates specifically to conference interpreting and clearly indicate the number of days and the languages interpreted. |
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—

in the case of competitions for conference interpreters, where professional experience is required, documents will be taken into consideration only if they show that the experience relates specifically to conference interpreting and clearly indicate the number of days and the languages interpreted.

Knowledge of languages

Depending on the competition you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge of the official EU languages (6). As a general rule you will need a thorough knowledge of one official EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another one. However, the competition notice may impose stricter requirements (this is the case, in particular, for linguist profiles). Unless otherwise stated in the competition notice the choice of second language will normally be limited to English, French or German (7).

6

7

When organising open competitions, EPSO applies the ‘General Guidelines on the use of languages in EPSO competitions’ (8) adopted by the College of Heads of Administration on 15 May 2013.

8

It has long been the practice to use mainly English, French and German for internal communication in the EU institutions and these are also the languages most often needed when communicating with the outside world and dealing with cases.

The second language options for competitions have been defined in the interests of the service, which require new recruits to be immediately operational and capable of communicating effectively in their daily work. Otherwise the efficient functioning of the institutions could be severely impaired.

To ensure equal treatment for all candidates, everyone — including those whose first official language is one of the three — must take certain test in their second language, chosen from among these three. Assessing specific competencies in this way allows the institutions to evaluate candidates' ability to be immediately operational in an environment that closely matches the reality they would face on the job. None of this affects the possibility of later language training to enable staff to work in a third language, as required under Article 45(2) of the Staff Regulations.

In general, no supporting documents are required to prove your knowledge of languages, except for certain competitions for linguists. In those cases the competition notice will state that you must provide evidence of your knowledge of the languages required in the form of a diploma or a written note explaining how you acquired your knowledge of them.

2.   STAGES IN THE COMPETITION

2.1.   APPLICATION

| 1. | Check carefully that you satisfy the eligibility conditions for the competition. |
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1.

Check carefully that you satisfy the eligibility conditions for the competition.

| 2. | Create your EPSO account if you do not yet have one. |
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2.

Create your EPSO account if you do not yet have one.

| 3. | Try the interactive tests proposed. |
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3.

Try the interactive tests proposed.

| 4. | Fill in your online application. |
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4.

Fill in your online application.

| 5. | Indicate any special arrangements needed for taking tests. |
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5.

Indicate any special arrangements needed for taking tests.

| 6. | Confirm and validate your online application by the given deadline. |
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6.

Confirm and validate your online application by the given deadline.

| 7. | Submit a full application file. |
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7.

Submit a full application file.

2.1.1.   Check that you satisfy the eligibility conditions

Before applying, check carefully to make sure that:

| (1) | you satisfy all the eligibility conditions, both general and specific; this means you must read the competition notice and these general rules carefully and accept the terms set out in them; |
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(1)

you satisfy all the eligibility conditions, both general and specific; this means you must read the competition notice and these general rules carefully and accept the terms set out in them;

| (2) | you have made the correct choice of field and profile; for some competitions published at the same time you can only apply for one field or profile; this will be clearly indicated in the competition notice. |
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(2)

you have made the correct choice of field and profile; for some competitions published at the same time you can only apply for one field or profile; this will be clearly indicated in the competition notice.

2.1.2.   Create your EPSO account

Your EPSO account serves as an online interface between you and EPSO. This is where you receive communications from EPSO and where you can track your applications. This is also where your personal data is stored, and where you can request it to be updated (9).

9

If you do not yet have an account, you can create one following the instructions on the EPSO website (10). You must have a valid, functioning e-mail address to do this.

10

You may only create one EPSO account, which will remain valid for all future applications. You may be disqualified at any stage of the procedure if EPSO discovers that you have created multiple accounts (see also Section 3.5 below).

one EPSO account

2.1.3.   Try the interactive sample tests proposed

Depending on the competition you apply for, you may be asked to take some interactive sample tests. These will give you an idea of the level required for the admission tests to the competition.

2.1.4.   Fill in your online application

You must apply through the EPSO website, following the instructions in the online application manual (11).

11

Please note that the application procedure itself can take quite some time because of the amount of information you have to fill in. It is your responsibility to ensure that you complete and validate your application before the deadline given in the competition notice.

Depending on the competition, you will be asked to include the relevant information on:

| — | your diplomas/qualifications, |
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—

your diplomas/qualifications,

| — | your professional experience (if required), |
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—

your professional experience (if required),

| — | your reasons for applying, |
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—

your reasons for applying,

| — | your knowledge of the official languages of the European Union. |
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—

your knowledge of the official languages of the European Union.

In the case of specialist competitions you may also have to answer a series of specific questions about your experience and qualifications relating to the field of the competition (see Section 2.4 ‘Selection based on qualifications — the talent screener’).

All parts of the online application form, including the ‘talent screener’, must be completed in English, French or German, unless otherwise specified in the competition notice.

2.1.5.   Indicate any special arrangements needed for taking tests

If you have a disability or a condition which might require special arrangements for taking the tests, please fill in the relevant information on the online application form.

You will need to send either a medical certificate or a certificate issued by a recognised body attesting your disability as soon as possible after validating your online application, by one of the following means:

| — | by e-mail to: EPSO-accessibility@ec.europa.eu |
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—

by e-mail to: EPSO-accessibility@ec.europa.eu

| — | by fax to: +32 22998081, |
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—

by fax to: +32 22998081,

+32 22998081,

| — | by post to: European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), C-25, 1049 Brussels, Belgium. |
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—

by post to: European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), C-25, 1049 Brussels, Belgium.

Please clearly label this correspondence ‘EPSO accessibility’, quoting your name, the number of the competition and your application number.

‘EPSO accessibility’

your name,

number of the competition

your application number.

The supporting documents will be examined on a case-by-case basis and where duly justified, in light both of the evidence submitted and of the principle of equal treatment of candidates, special arrangements may be offered by EPSO within the limits of what is judged to be reasonable.

If a disability or condition develops after the deadline for online applications, you must inform EPSO as soon as possible of the arrangements you consider necessary and send the relevant supporting documents by e-mail, fax or post to EPSO using the details indicated above.

2.1.6.   Confirm and validate your online application

After completing your online application form you must submit it by clicking on the ‘validate application’ button in order for it to be taken into account and processed by EPSO.

Please note that EPSO cannot accept applications from candidates who fail to validate their application before the deadline.

Please note that EPSO cannot accept applications from candidates who fail to validate their application before the deadline.

Once you have validated your application, you will no longer be able to make any changes; the data entered is immediately processed by EPSO with a view to organising the competition.

All the eligibility conditions, both general and specific, must be met on the date(s) specified in the competition notice.

All the eligibility conditions, both general and specific, must be met on the date(s) specified in the competition notice.

2.1.7.   Submitting a full application file

A full application file is a file comprising a signed copy of your application form and all the required supporting documents.

Unless the competition notice states that the file must be submitted at the same time as the online application, only candidates invited to the assessment phase will be required to bring their full application file on the day of the assessment centre.

Unless the competition notice states that the file must be submitted at the same time as the online application, only candidates invited to the assessment phase will be required to bring their full application file on the day of the assessment centre.

When we request you to provide your full application file, our letter will indicate what kind of supporting documents you need to enclose (e.g. uncertified photocopies or originals of the documents required).

EPSO will not return any documents and, in accordance with data protection rules, after the expiry of the applicable retention period the files will be destroyed.

If you are placed on the reserve list and offered a position, you will have to produce the originals of all documents for certification before you can be recruited.

References to websites, printouts of web pages, or references to previous applications or documents, do not constitute valid supporting documents.

When requested to submit your full application file, you should:

| (1) | Print out your validated online application form from your EPSO account. |
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(1)

Print out your validated online application form from your EPSO account.

| (2) | Sign it in the appropriate box. |
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(2)

Sign it in the appropriate box.

| (3) | Number, attach and include a numbered index of all required supporting documents. |
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(3)

Number, attach and include a numbered index of all required supporting documents.

2.2.   COMPUTER-BASED MULTIPLE-CHOICE TESTS

For most general competitions EPSO organises computer-based multiple-choice tests. The selection board decides on the difficulty of these tests and approves their subject matter on the basis of proposals made by EPSO. The tests are marked by computer.

Depending on the competition you have applied for, the tests may include the following:

| — | a verbal reasoning test: to assess your ability to think logically and understand verbal information, |
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—

a verbal reasoning test: to assess your ability to think logically and understand verbal information,

| — | a numerical reasoning test: to assess your ability to think logically and understand numerical information, |
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—

a numerical reasoning test: to assess your ability to think logically and understand numerical information,

| — | an abstract reasoning test: to assess your ability to think logically and understand the relations between concepts involving no linguistic, spatial or numerical elements, |
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—

an abstract reasoning test: to assess your ability to think logically and understand the relations between concepts involving no linguistic, spatial or numerical elements,

| — | situational judgement test: to assess your typical behaviour in a working context: |
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—

situational judgement test: to assess your typical behaviour in a working context:

| — | test(s) of language skills, |
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—

test(s) of language skills,

| — | test(s) of specific professional skills. |
| --- | --- |

—

test(s) of specific professional skills.

In order to take the computer-based tests you must book a testing appointment. You will receive instructions on how to book your tests via your EPSO account, including the indication of the time period within which you are allowed to make the booking, and a tutorial on the booking process.

In order to take the computer-based tests you must book a testing appointment.

Normally you will be offered several possible dates and a list of different centres in which you can sit the tests. Please note that the period during which you can book and sit your tests is limited. If you fail to book a testing appointment within the indicated period, you will be automatically disqualified from the competition.

Please note that the period during which you can book and sit your tests is limited. If you fail to book a testing appointment within the indicated period, you will be automatically disqualified from the competition.

2.3.   VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY (ADMISSION)

EPSO checks whether your application is admissible, i.e. whether it was submitted by the deadline and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the competition notice.

If your application is admissible, the information given in your online application will then be checked for compliance with the general and specific eligibility conditions (12), as specified in the competition notice. This information will be verified at a later stage against the supporting documents provided (unless the competition notice foresees document checks at an earlier stage, see point 2.1.7).

12

Only applications that satisfy all the conditions spelled out in the competition notice will be taken into consideration.

2.4.   SELECTION BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS — THE TALENT SCREENER

For most specialist profiles, candidates have to go through a phase called ‘selection based on qualifications’. In this phase, the selection board assesses the applications of the candidates and selects those whose qualifications (in particular diplomas and professional experience) best match the duties and selection criteria set out in the competition notice.

If you are a candidate in a competition of this type, you have to answer a series of questions in the ‘talent screener’ section of the online application form. The questions are based on the selection criteria given in the notice of competition and your answers are assessed by the selection board. All candidates in a competition answer the same set of questions. In this way, the selection board is presented with each candidate's answers in the same structured framework helping the board to carry out a careful objective assessment of the comparative merits of all candidates.

This selection is made solely on the basis of responses to specific questions in the ‘talent screener’ tab of the online application form.

solely

The selection board first decides on a weighting (from 1 to 3) for each talent screener question, according to the importance attached to the criterion. Then, the selection board examines the content of the candidates' answers to the questions and awards 0 to 4 points for each answer. The points are then multiplied by the weighting for each question.

The candidates with the highest points go through to the assessment phase (the competition notice specifies how many will be admitted).

2.5.   ASSESSMENT CENTRE

After the computer-based multiple-choice tests and/or the selection based on qualifications, candidates are invited to an assessment centre, which is normally held in Brussels or Luxembourg, and may take place over one or more days.

Some exercises, although part of the assessment centre model, may be organised on computer in other cities. In this case the procedure for making practical arrangements (reserving a date and place) will be much the same as described in Section 2.2.

In the assessment centre, candidates' general competencies (see Section 1.2) and their specific competencies (related to the duties in question) will be tested.

Depending on the competition these tests may include the following:

| — | case study: a written test based on a relevant scenario, in which you are faced with various problems that you are asked to solve or to which you must react, relying solely on the material provided, |
| --- | --- |

—

case study: a written test based on a relevant scenario, in which you are faced with various problems that you are asked to solve or to which you must react, relying solely on the material provided,

case study

| — | oral presentation: an individual test of analysis and presentation, in which you are asked to come up with a proposal concerning a fictitious work-related problem. After analysing the documentation provided, you have to present your ideas to a small group of people, |
| --- | --- |

—

oral presentation: an individual test of analysis and presentation, in which you are asked to come up with a proposal concerning a fictitious work-related problem. After analysing the documentation provided, you have to present your ideas to a small group of people,

oral presentation

| — | structured interview(s): an individual exercise designed to obtain, in a structured way, relevant information about your general skills (and/or specific skills, in the case of specialist competitions), based on past experience, |
| --- | --- |

—

structured interview(s): an individual exercise designed to obtain, in a structured way, relevant information about your general skills (and/or specific skills, in the case of specialist competitions), based on past experience,

structured interview(s):

| — | group exercise: after absorbing a certain amount of information on your own, you are put in a group with several other participants to discuss your conclusions and reach a collective decision, |
| --- | --- |

—

group exercise: after absorbing a certain amount of information on your own, you are put in a group with several other participants to discuss your conclusions and reach a collective decision,

group exercise

| — | e-tray: a computer-based test in which you are asked to answer a number of questions using the documentation provided in an e-mail inbox, |
| --- | --- |

—

e-tray: a computer-based test in which you are asked to answer a number of questions using the documentation provided in an e-mail inbox,

e-tray

| — | practical language tests, |
| --- | --- |

—

practical language tests,

practical language tests

| — | other exercises relating to specific skills, |
| --- | --- |

—

other exercises relating to specific skills,

other exercises relating to specific skills

| — | verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning and situational judgement tests (if such tests were not arranged earlier in the competition). |
| --- | --- |

—

verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning and situational judgement tests (if such tests were not arranged earlier in the competition).

verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning and situational judgement tests

A detailed explanation of the tests used for each competition will be given in the competition notice and the ‘Assessment Centre’ brochure that candidates receive when invited to take part in this stage of the competition.

2.6.   SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES/RESERVE LIST

The selection board draws up a ‘reserve list’ containing the names of those candidates who performed best and obtained the highest scores, as specified in the notice of competition. The list is then sent to the EU institutions, which are responsible for recruiting successful candidates from the list. Being included on a reserve list does not mean you have any right or guarantee of recruitment.

Being included on a reserve list does not mean you have any right or guarantee of recruitment.

The reserve list and its expiry date are published (13) in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the EPSO website. The validity of the list may be extended in some cases. The decision extending a list will be published only on the EPSO website.

13

All candidates who took the assessment centre tests (14) will be sent a document known as a ‘competency passport’, which provides both quantitative and qualitative feedback about their performance at the assessment centre.

14

The competency passports of successful candidates will also be made available to the EU Institutions, which they may use during the recruitment procedure and with a view to career development. If you are among the successful candidates, EPSO will also provide you with additional useful information material.

3.   GENERAL INFORMATION

3.1.   COMMUNICATION

3.1.1.   EPSO: communication with candidates

Your results and all invitations will be sent to you solely via your EPSO account in English, French or German.

English, French or German

You must consult your EPSO account at regular intervals — at least twice a week — to keep track of the progress of the competition and to check the information relevant to your application.

at least twice a week

If you are prevented from doing so because of a technical problem that is due to EPSO, you must notify EPSO immediately via the online contact form (15).

15

General information on the successive stages of competitions can be consulted on the relevant competition page on the EPSO website (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/eu-careers.info/).

3.1.2.   Candidates: communication with EPSO

Before contacting EPSO please check first that you have read thoroughly all information in the competition notice, in these general rules, and on the EPSO website, including the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (16).

16

Contact details can be found on the website (17). In all correspondence to do with an application, candidates must quote their name as given in their application, the competition number, and their application number.

17

name

competition number

application number

EPSO takes great care to apply the principles of the code of good administrative conduct (18). However, under those same principles, EPSO reserves the right to cease any correspondence if that which it receives from a candidate is improper — i.e. repetitive, abusive and/or irrelevant.

18

3.1.3.   Candidates: communication with selection boards

To ensure the selection board's independence, it is strictly forbidden for anyone outside the board to attempt to contact any of its members. The one exception is that candidates may write to the chair of the selection board via the European Personnel Selection Office in order to state their case or assert their rights. All correspondence intended for a selection board must be sent only to EPSO, which will pass it on to the board. Any direct or indirect intervention by candidates that does not comply with the procedures referred to above is forbidden and may result in disqualification from the competition.

3.2.   DATA PROTECTION

As the body responsible for organising competitions, EPSO ensures that candidates' personal data are processed as required by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (19). This applies in particular to guaranteeing the confidentiality and security of such data.

19

More information on this issue can be found in the data protection section of the EPSO website (privacy statement) (20).

20

3.3.   ACCESS TO INFORMATION

3.3.1.   Candidates' specific access rights

As a candidate involved in an open competition, you have specific access rights, resulting from your status of candidate, to certain competition documents and information concerning you directly and individually, according to the terms and conditions set out in this Section.

These specific rights of access are granted in light of the obligation to state reasons, with due regard to the provisions of Article 6 of Annex III to the Staff Regulations according to which the proceedings of selection boards shall be secret.

Under Article 25(2) of the Staff Regulations, any decision relating to a specific individual and adversely affecting him must state the grounds on which it is based. The purpose of the obligation to state reasons is to give the person concerned the information necessary to ascertain whether or not the decision in question is well founded, and to allow judicial review.

In the case of decisions taken by a selection board in a competition, the obligation to state reasons must be reconciled with the confidential nature of the selection board proceedings under Article 6 of Annex III to the Staff Regulations. This secrecy was introduced to safeguard the independence of selection boards and the objectivity of their proceedings, by protecting them from all external interference and pressures. The secrecy of board proceedings therefore precludes both disclosure of the attitudes adopted by individual members of selection boards and disclosure of any factors relating to individual or comparative assessments of candidates.

The right to information defined in this Section is specific to candidates in an open competition and should not be mistaken with the right of access as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (21) (the Transparency Regulation: see Section 3.3.2 below). Please note that with regard to information relating to your personal participation in an open competition, you cannot derive more rights from Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 then what case law has recognised as belonging to the candidates' specific right of access described above.

21

3.3.1.1.   Automatic communication

In light of the above, as a candidate, you will automatically receive the following information:

automatically receive

| Competition stage | Communication |
| --- | --- |
| Computer-based multiple-choice tests | — | Your results. |

Competition stage

Communication

Computer-based multiple-choice tests

—

Your results.

| — | A grid showing, for each test question, the answer(s) you chose and the correct answer(s). It will not show the wording of the questions and answers, but merely their reference numbers/letters.
  Please note that the communication of the wording of the questions and answers of the computer-based multiple-choice tests is hereby explicitly excluded. Case law has confirmed that for tests in the form of multiple-choice questions, the obligation to state reasons is complied with by communicating to the candidates the information specified above. |
| --- | --- |

—

A grid showing, for each test question, the answer(s) you chose and the correct answer(s). It will not show the wording of the questions and answers, but merely their reference numbers/letters.

Please note that the communication of the wording of the questions and answers of the computer-based multiple-choice tests is hereby explicitly excluded. Case law has confirmed that for tests in the form of multiple-choice questions, the obligation to state reasons is complied with by communicating to the candidates the information specified above.

the communication of the wording of the questions and answers of the computer-based multiple-choice tests is hereby explicitly excluded

Admission

| — | Your results (admitted/not admitted). |
| --- | --- |

—

Your results (admitted/not admitted).

| — | If not admitted, the eligibility criteria that were not met will also be indicated. |
| --- | --- |

—

If not admitted, the eligibility criteria that were not met will also be indicated.

Selection on the basis of qualifications

(talent screener)

| — | Your results. |
| --- | --- |

—

Your results.

| — | Unsuccessful candidates will also receive the grid showing the weighting for each question of the 'talent screener', and the points awarded by the selection board for each answer. |
| --- | --- |

—

Unsuccessful candidates will also receive the grid showing the weighting for each question of the 'talent screener', and the points awarded by the selection board for each answer.

Preliminary tests

| — | Your results. |
| --- | --- |

—

Your results.

Assessment Centre

| — | Your results. |
| --- | --- |

—

Your results.

| — | Your competency passport showing your overall marks for each competency assessed, and the selection board's comments. |
| --- | --- |

—

Your competency passport showing your overall marks for each competency assessed, and the selection board's comments.

Please note that candidates who fail to complete one or more tests, or are excluded from the competition due to non-compliance with the procedural rules, will not receive a competency passport.

Please note that

3.3.1.2.   Information upon request

Candidates can request an uncorrected copy of their answers in the written/practical tests and as a general rule, such access will be granted. Nevertheless, in cases where test content is intended to be reused in the future and where disclosing these copies would compromise development of future tests and the fairness and objectivity of future competitions, copies will not be provided to candidates. In such cases, you will be informed about this in advance by means of the notice of competition and/or the invitation letter to the tests in question.

uncorrected

Please note that all requests for information will be evaluated in light of the above mentioned obligation to state reasons and taking account of the confidential nature of selection board proceedings under the Staff Regulations (Annex III, Article 6), and in compliance with the rules on the protection of personal data.

all

Please note that the corrected answer scripts and the details of the marking, in particular, are covered by the secrecy of selection board proceedings and will not be disclosed (22).

Please note that the corrected answer scripts and the details of the marking, in particular, are covered by the secrecy of selection board proceedings and will not be disclosed (22

A great deal of information about the selection procedure EPSO organises is available on its website. If you cannot find the information you require on the website, please submit your information request via the contact form on the EPSO website and indicating as precise as possible the information you wish to obtain and whether you ask for this information in light of your status as candidate in the open competition.

3.3.2.   Access to documents under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 — Transparency

Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 provides that any citizen of the Union and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State has a right of access to documents of the institutions, subject to the principles, conditions, and limits defined in the Regulation. However, according to case law, the right of access to documents as set out in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 may be limited or denied where there are special rules governing specific matters, under the principle that a special rule overrides the general rule (lex specialis derogat legi generali).

lex specialis derogat legi generali

In the case of open competitions, the application of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 (the general rule) is excluded by virtue of Article 6 of Annex III to the Staff Regulations, which constitutes a special rule (23).

excluded

23

In the light of the above, it is very unlikely that you would obtain a given document in light of this regulation which was refused to you as a candidate in a selection procedure.

Moreover, the Regulation applies only to requests for access to existing documents, i.e. ‘any content whatever its medium (written on paper or stored in electronic form or as a sound, visual or audio-visual recording) concerning a matter relating to the policies, activities and decisions falling within the institution's sphere of responsibility’ (24). The Institutions cannot be required to compile new documents upon request.

existing documents

24

3.4.   COMPLAINTS

Competition procedures are organised professionally by EPSO, a dedicated interinstitutional office with long-standing expertise in the field. We do our best to guarantee fair, objective procedures and appropriate testing conditions for all candidates. However, despite our best efforts, at times technical problems or human mistakes may occur.

3.4.1.   What to do if something goes wrong?

If, at any stage of the competition procedure, you encounter a serious technical or organisational problem which is likely to impact your participation in the competition, please inform EPSO immediately, in order to allow us to investigate the issue and take any corrective measures.

If, at any stage of the competition procedure, you encounter a serious technical or organisational problem which is likely to impact your participation in the competition, please inform EPSO immediately,

You must do this in one of the following ways:

You must do this in one of the following ways:

| — | for problems occurring outside test centres (such as those concerning the application or booking process), please send EPSO a message via the contact form (25) on our website with a brief description of the problem encountered, |
| --- | --- |

—

for problems occurring outside test centres (such as those concerning the application or booking process), please send EPSO a message via the contact form (25) on our website with a brief description of the problem encountered,

problems occurring outside test centres

25

| — | if the problem occurs at a test centre, please alert the invigilators and ask them to record your complaint in writing,

  and
  send EPSO a message via the contact form on our website with a brief description of the problem encountered. |
| --- | --- |

—

if the problem occurs at a test centre, please alert the invigilators and ask them to record your complaint in writing,

  and
  send EPSO a message via the contact form on our website with a brief description of the problem encountered.

problem occurs at a test centre

,

and

Please always quote the competition number and your application number in your message.

Please note:

| — | if you wish to complain about an error in the content of the computer-based multiple-choice tests, please refer to the neutralisation procedure described in Section 3.4.2 below, |
| --- | --- |

—

if you wish to complain about an error in the content of the computer-based multiple-choice tests, please refer to the neutralisation procedure described in Section 3.4.2 below,

error in the content of the computer-based multiple-choice tests

neutralisation

| — | if you wish to contest a decision taken by EPSO or the Selection Board, please refer to the internal review procedure described in Section 3.4.3 below. |
| --- | --- |

—

if you wish to contest a decision taken by EPSO or the Selection Board, please refer to the internal review procedure described in Section 3.4.3 below.

contest a decision

internal review procedure

3.4.2.   Neutralisation

What is neutralisation?

Neutralisation is a corrective measure, endorsed by the Court of Justice (26), the purpose of which is to ensure the objectivity of assessments and equal treatment of candidates when competition tests contain irregularities in the form of erroneous questions.

26

Despite in-depth quality control of the database of questions used for the computer-based multiple-choice tests, including checks carried out by the selection boards, it may still happen that certain questions contain material errors.

When such an error is detected after the tests have taken place, the selection board may decide to cancel the question containing the error and to redistribute the points initially attributed to that question among the remaining questions of the test. This system means that the recalculation of marks following the neutralisation of a question affects only those candidates to whom the specific question was put. The marking of the tests remains as indicated in the competition notice.

It should be stressed that the neutralisation system has been designed to ensure that no candidate is unfairly penalised. In order to make sure of this, a simulation is carried out, comparing the results before and after neutralisation. EPSO and the selection boards apply an inclusive rather than exclusive approach, setting the threshold for the tests after neutralisation so as to make allowance for candidates who may have been adversely affected by the neutralisation procedure.

Please also note that under the relevant case law, the difference in time that candidates devoted to answering questions which were cancelled does not constitute unequal treatment between candidates (27).

27

Requests

If you consider that one or more of the questions put to you in the computer-based multiple-choice tests contained an error such as to make it impossible to answer or such as to affect candidates' ability to answer correctly, you are entitled to ask for the question(s) to be cancelled under the neutralisation procedure.

Requests for cancellation must be made within ten calendar days of the date of your computer-based tests,

within ten calendar days of the date of your computer-based tests,

| — | either directly to the exam centre after you have taken the tests, |
| --- | --- |

—

either directly to the exam centre after you have taken the tests,

| — | or using the contact form (28) available on the EPSO website. |
| --- | --- |

—

or using the contact form (28) available on the EPSO website.

28

Please always quote in your message the competition number, your application number, and the phrase ‘complaint procedures’.

In your request, you must provide the information necessary to identify the question(s) that you believe contained errors (for example by describing what the question was about), and explain as clearly as possible the nature of the alleged error.

must

Requests for neutralisation received after the deadline, those which are not clear enough to help identify the question(s) contested, or which do not explain the nature of the alleged error, will not be taken into account.

Requests for neutralisation received after the deadline, those which are not clear enough to help identify the question(s) contested, or which do not explain the nature of the alleged error, will not be taken into account.

3.4.3.   Internal review procedure

You can request a review of any decision of the selection board or EPSO that directly and immediately affects your legal status in the competition (that is to say, that establishes your results and/or determines if you can proceed to the next stage of the competition or are excluded therefrom).

decision

Requests for review may be based on one or more of the following reasons:

| — | a material irregularity in the competition process (29); |
| --- | --- |

—

a material irregularity in the competition process (29);

29

| — | non-compliance, by the selection board or EPSO, with the rules governing the competition procedure as laid down by the Staff Regulations, the notice of competition, these general rules, and case law. |
| --- | --- |

—

non-compliance, by the selection board or EPSO, with the rules governing the competition procedure as laid down by the Staff Regulations, the notice of competition, these general rules, and case law.

Please note that you are not allowed to challenge the validity of the selection board's assessment concerning the quality of your performance in a test. This assessment is the expression of a value judgment and falls into the wide discretion enjoyed by the selection board.

you are not allowed to challenge the validity of the selection board's assessment concerning the quality of your performance in a test

Competition for posts in the EU Institutions is intense, and only few candidates can succeed. Because of the very nature of the competition procedure, the comparative assessment that it involves, and the limited number of places on the reserve list, the majority of the candidates in any competition will inevitably be unsuccessful even if they are generally competent. This is a normal aspect of the competition, rather than an indication that something has gone wrong.

Procedure

Submit your request within 10 calendar days from the date when the decision you wish to contest is uploaded in your EPSO account:

within 10 calendar days from the date when the decision you wish to contest is uploaded in your EPSO account

| — | either via the contact form (30) on EPSO's website, |
| --- | --- |

—

either via the contact form (30) on EPSO's website,

30

| — | or by post to the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), C-25 1049 Brussels, Belgium. |
| --- | --- |

—

or by post to the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), C-25 1049 Brussels, Belgium.

Please always quote in your message the competition number, your application number, and the phrase ‘Request for review’.

You must clearly indicate the decision you wish to contest, and you must state the grounds on which your request is based.

You must clearly indicate the decision you wish to contest, and you must state the grounds on which your request is based.

The internal review procedure is managed by the legal team of EPSO.

Upon receipt of your request we will send you an acknowledgment of receipt within 15 working days.

Your request will then be analysed and submitted for consideration to the same body that adopted the contested decision (either the selection board or EPSO) (31). The selection board or EPSO will then take a decision on your request. After a decision is taken, a reasoned reply addressing your arguments will be prepared by the legal team.

31

We will examine your request thoroughly, fairly and objectively. The procedure may take several weeks. We will send you a reasoned decision as swiftly as possible, via your EPSO account.

If your request for review receives a positive response, you will be reintegrated into the competition at the step where you have been excluded regardless of how far the competition has progressed in the meantime, so that your rights may be safeguarded.

3.4.4.   Other forms of contestation

3.4.4.1.   Administrative complaints

As a candidate in a competition, you have the right to address to the appointing authority (i.e. the Director of EPSO) an administrative complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations.

The complaint must be directed against an act that adversely affects you (that is to say, a decision — or lack of it where there is an obligation to take a decision imposed by the Staff Regulations — which brings you prejudice). To be considered as an act adversely affecting you, the measure in question must be such as to directly and immediately affect your legal status as a candidate.

Note that decisions by a selection board in a competition cannot be annulled or changed by the Director of EPSO following an administrative complaint. There is therefore no point in submitting a complaint against a selection board's decision
   (32)
  .

Note that decisions by a selection board in a competition cannot be annulled or changed by the Director of EPSO following an administrative complaint. There is therefore no point in submitting a complaint against a selection board's decision

32

.

Administrative complaints must be lodged within three months counting from the notification of the decision you wish to contest (or, in the absence of a decision, from the day when a decision should have been taken),

| — | either via the contact form (33) on EPSO's website; |
| --- | --- |

—

either via the contact form (33) on EPSO's website;

33

| — | or by post to the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), C-25 1049 Brussels, Belgium. |
| --- | --- |

—

or by post to the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), C-25 1049 Brussels, Belgium.

Please always quote in your message the competition number, your application number, and the phrase ‘complaint procedures’.

3.4.4.2.   Judicial appeals

As a candidate in a competition, you have the right to submit a judicial appeal to the European Union Civil Service Tribunal, under Article 270 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations.

Note that appeals against decisions taken by EPSO rather than by the selection board will not be admissible before the European Union Civil Service Tribunal unless an administrative complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations has first been made following the procedure described above in Section 3.4.4.1. In particular, this is the case with the decisions concerning the general eligibility criteria, which are taken by EPSO not the selection board.

For details of how to submit an appeal, please consult the website of the European Union Civil Service Tribunal (34).

34

3.4.4.3.   Complaints to the European Ombudsman

Like all citizens of the European Union and Member State residents, you can make a complaint to the European Ombudsman (35).

35

Please note that, under Article 2(4) of the general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties, any complaint lodged with the Ombudsman must be preceded by the appropriate administrative approaches to the institutions and bodies concerned.

any complaint lodged with the Ombudsman must be preceded by the appropriate administrative approaches to the institutions and bodies concerned

Complaints made to the Ombudsman have no suspensive effect on the period laid down in Article 90(2) and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations for lodging complaints or for submitting appeals to the Civil Service Tribunal.

3.5.   DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE COMPETITION

You will be excluded from the competition in question if, at any stage in the procedure, EPSO finds that:

| — | you have created more than one EPSO account, |
| --- | --- |

—

you have created more than one EPSO account,

| — | you have applied for profiles that are incompatible, |
| --- | --- |

—

you have applied for profiles that are incompatible,

| — | you have made any false declarations, or the declarations you have made are not supported by the appropriate documentation, |
| --- | --- |

—

you have made any false declarations, or the declarations you have made are not supported by the appropriate documentation,

| — | you have failed to book your computer-based tests (multiple-choice tests, case study, etc.), |
| --- | --- |

—

you have failed to book your computer-based tests (multiple-choice tests, case study, etc.),

| — | you have cheated during tests, |
| --- | --- |

—

you have cheated during tests,

| — | you have attempted to contact a member of the selection board in an unauthorised manner. |
| --- | --- |

—

you have attempted to contact a member of the selection board in an unauthorised manner.

Anyone applying for recruitment by the institutions must show themselves to be of the highest possible integrity. Fraud or attempted fraud may render you liable to penalty and may compromise your eligibility for future competitions.

Anyone applying for recruitment by the institutions must show themselves to be of the highest possible integrity. Fraud or attempted fraud may render you liable to penalty and may compromise your eligibility for future competitions.

---

(1)  Subject to any exceptions granted under Article 28(a) of the Staff Regulations of Officials and any specific measures adopted with a view to recruiting citizens of countries joining the Union.

1

(2)  The names of the selection board members are published on the EPSO website (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/eu-careers.info/).

2

(3)  Competition notices do not set any age limit, but please note the retirement age laid down in the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union (‘the Staff Regulations’), which can be found on the EPSO website.

3

(4)  Subject to any exceptions granted under Article 28(a) of the Staff Regulations of Officials, and any specific measures adopted with a view to recruiting citizens of countries joining the Union. If exceptions or specific measures apply in a given competition, they are indicated in the competition notice.

4

(5)  Please refer to Annex 1 (examples of qualifications).

5

(6)  http://ec.europa.eu/languages/languages-of-europe/eu-languages_en.htm

6

(7)  Following the judgment given by the Court of Justice of the European Union (Grand Chamber) in Case C-566/10 P, Italy v Commission, the EU institutions must state the reasons for limiting the choice of the second language to a small number of official EU languages.

7

Italy

Commission

(8)  Please refer to Annex 2 for the text of the General Guidelines.

8

(9)  In compliance with the rules on data protection; https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/index.cfm?action=pdplegal&sb=1&comp_id=

9

(10)  http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm

10

(11)  http://europa.eu/epso/doc/epso_brochure_en.pdf

11

(12)  Compliance with the general eligibility conditions is verified by EPSO, whilst compliance with the specific eligibility conditions is verified by the selection board of the competition.

12

(13)  Successful candidates may explicitly request that their name not be published. Any such request must reach EPSO no later than 2 weeks after the date when your results are uploaded to your EPSO account.

13

(14)  Except for those who fail to complete one or more tests, or are excluded from the competition due to non-compliance with the procedural rules (see Section 3.5 below).

14

(15)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/webform.cfm?usertype=2&lang=en&langsub=ok

15

(16)  Under the heading ‘Contact’ on the EPSO website: http://europa.eu/epso/index_en.htm

16

(17)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/webform.cfm?usertype=2&lang=en&langsub=ok

17

(18)  OJ L 267, 20.10.2000, p. 63.

18

(19)  Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1).

19

(20)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/index.cfm?action=pdplegal&sb=1&comp_id=

20

(21)  Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43).

21

(22)  Judgment of 4 July 1996 in Case C-254/95 P Parliament v Innamorati (ECR 1996, p. I-3423, paragraph 29).

22

(23)  Judgment of 14 July 2005 in Case T-371/03 Le Voci v Council (ECR-SC 2005, p. I-A-209 and II-957, paragraphs 121-124 and the case-law cited).

23

(24)  See Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.

24

(25)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/webform.cfm?usertype=2&lang=en&langsub=ok

25

(26)  Judgment of 21 October 2004 in Case T-49/03 Schumann v Commission (ECR-SC 2004, p. I-A-301 and II-1371, paragraphs 53-55); judgment of 15 April 2010 in Case F-2/07 Matos Martins v Commission (paragraph 191).

26

Schumann

Commission

Matos Martins

Commission

(27)  Judgment of 2 May 2001 in Joined Cases T-167/99 and T-174/99 Giulietti and Others v Commission (ECR-SC 2001, p. I-A-93 and II-441, paragraph 59); judgment of 15 April 2010 in Case F-2/07 Matos Martins v Commission (paragraph 183).

27

Giulietti and Others

Commission

Matos Martins

Commission

(28)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/webform.cfm?usertype=2&lang=en&langsub=ok

28

(29)  This does not apply to errors in questions in the admission tests, which are examined under the neutralisation procedure referred to in point 3.4.2.

29

(30)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/webform.cfm?usertype=2&lang=en&langsub=ok

30

(31)  This due to the division of competences imposed by the Staff Regulations.

31

(32)  Judgment of 26 February 1981 in Case 34/80 Authié v Commission (ECR 1981, p. 665, paragraph 7); judgment of 30 November 1978 in Joined Cases 4/78, 19/78 and 28/78 Salerno and Others v Commission (ECR 1978, p. 2403).

32

Authié

Commission

Salerno and Others

Commission

(33)  https://europa.eu/epso/application/passport/webform.cfm?usertype=2&lang=en&langsub=ok

33

(34)  http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/T5_5230/

34

(35)  http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/start.faces

35

---

ANNEX 1

Examples of qualifications corresponding, in principle, to those required by the notices of competition

| COUNTRY | AST-SC1 to AST-SC6
  AST1 to AST7 | AST 3 to AST 11 | AD 5 to AD 16 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Secondary education (1) (giving access to post-secondary education) | Post-secondary education (non-university higher education course or short university course lasting at least 2 years) | University education (lasting at least 3 years (2)) | University education (4 years or more) |
| Belgique —
  België —
  Belgien | Certificat de l'enseignement secondaire supérieur (CESS)/Diploma secundair onderwijs
  Diplôme d'aptitude à accéder à l'enseignement supérieur (DAES)/
  Getuigschrift van hoger secundair onderwijs
  Diplôme d'enseignement professionnel
  Getuigschrift van het beroepssecundair onderwijs | Candidature — Kandidaat /
  Graduat — Gegradueerde
  Bachelor/Professioneel gerichte Bachelor | Bachelor académique (180 crédits)
  Academisch gerichte Bachelor (180 ECTS) | Licence/Licentiaat
  Master
  Diplôme d'études approfondies (DEA)
  Diplôme d'études spécialisées (DES)
  Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées (DESS)
  Gediplomeerde in de Voortgezette Studies (GVS)
  Gediplomeerde in de Gespecialiseerde Studies (GGS)
  Gediplomeerde in de Aanvullende Studies (GAS)
  Agrégation/Aggregaat
  Ingénieur industriel/Industrieel ingenieur
  Doctorat/Doctoraal diploma |
| България | Диплома за завършено средно образование
  Диплома за средно образование | Специалист по ... | | Диплома за висше образование
  Бакалавър
  Магистър |
| Česká republika | Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce | Vysvědčení o absolutoriu (Absolutorium) + diplomovaný specialista (DiS.) | Diplom o ukončení
  bakalářského studia (Bakalář) | Diplom o ukončení vysokoškolského studia
  Magistr
  Doktor |
| Danmark | Bevis for:
  Studentereksamen
  Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF)
  Højere Handelseksamen (HHX)
  Højere Afgangseksamen (HA)
  Bac pro: Bevis for Højere Teknisk Eksamen (HTX) | Videregående uddannelser
  = Bevis for = Eksamensbevis som (erhversakademiuddannelse AK) | Bachelorgrad (B.A or B. Sc)
  Professionsbachelorgrad
  Diplomingeniør | Kandidatgrad/Candidatus
  Master/Magistergrad (Mag.Art)
  Licenciatgrad
  Ph.d.-grad |
| Deutschland | Abitur/Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife
  Fachabitur/Zeugnis der Fachhochschulreife | | Fachhochschulabschluss
  Bachelor | Hochschulabschluss /
  Fachhochschulabschluss /
  Master
  Magister Artium
  Staatsexamen/Diplom
  Erstes Juristisches Staatsexamen
  Doktorgrad |
| Eesti | Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus + riigieksamitunnistus
  Lõputunnistus kutsekeskhariduse omandamise kohta | Tunnistus keskhariduse baasil kutsekeskhariduse omandamise kohta | Bakalaureusekraad (min 120 ainepunkti)
  Bakalaureusekraad (< 160 ainepunkti) | Rakenduskõrghariduse diplom
  Bakalaureusekraad (160 ainepunkti)
  Magistrikraad
  Arstikraad
  Hambaarstikraad
  Loomaarstikraad
  Filosoofiadoktor
  Doktorikraad (120–160 ainepunkti) |
| Éire/Ireland | Ardteistiméireacht Grád D3 i 5 ábhar
  Leaving Certificate Grade D3 in 5 subjects
  Gairmchlár na hArdteistiméireachta (GCAT)
  Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) | Teastas Náisiúnta
  National Certificate
  Céim bhaitsiléara
  Ordinary bachelor degree
  Dioplóma Náisiúnta (ND, Dip.)
  National Diploma (ND, Dip.)
  Dámhachtain Ardteastas Ardoideachais (120 ECTS)
  Higher Certificate (120 ECTS) | Céim onórach bhaitsiléara (3 bliana/180 ECTS) (BA, B.Sc, B.Eng)
  Honours bachelor degree (3 years/180 ECTS) (BA, B.Sc, B.Eng) | Céim onórach bhaitsiléara (4 bliana/240 ECTS)
  Honours bachelor degree (4 years/240 ECTS) Céim ollscoile
  University degree
  Céim mháistir (60-120 ECTS)
  Master's degree (60-120 ECTS)
  Céim dochtúra
  Doctorate |
| Ελλάδα | α) | Απολυτήριο Γενικού Λυκείου |

COUNTRY

AST-SC1 to AST-SC6

AST1 to AST7

AST 3 to AST 11

AD 5 to AD 16

Secondary education (1) (giving access to post-secondary education)

Post-secondary education (non-university higher education course or short university course lasting at least 2 years)

University education (lasting at least 3 years (2))

University education (4 years or more)

Belgique —

België —

Belgien

Certificat de l'enseignement secondaire supérieur (CESS)/Diploma secundair onderwijs

Diplôme d'aptitude à accéder à l'enseignement supérieur (DAES)/

Getuigschrift van hoger secundair onderwijs

Diplôme d'enseignement professionnel

Getuigschrift van het beroepssecundair onderwijs

Candidature — Kandidaat /

Graduat — Gegradueerde

Bachelor/Professioneel gerichte Bachelor

Bachelor académique (180 crédits)

Academisch gerichte Bachelor (180 ECTS)

Licence/Licentiaat

Master

Diplôme d'études approfondies (DEA)

Diplôme d'études spécialisées (DES)

Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées (DESS)

Gediplomeerde in de Voortgezette Studies (GVS)

Gediplomeerde in de Gespecialiseerde Studies (GGS)

Gediplomeerde in de Aanvullende Studies (GAS)

Agrégation/Aggregaat

Ingénieur industriel/Industrieel ingenieur

Doctorat/Doctoraal diploma

България

Диплома за завършено средно образование

Диплома за средно образование

Специалист по ...

Диплома за висше образование

Бакалавър

Магистър

Česká republika

Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce

Vysvědčení o absolutoriu (Absolutorium) + diplomovaný specialista (DiS.)

Diplom o ukončení

bakalářského studia (Bakalář)

Diplom o ukončení vysokoškolského studia

Magistr

Doktor

Danmark

Bevis for:

Studentereksamen

Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF)

Højere Handelseksamen (HHX)

Højere Afgangseksamen (HA)

Bac pro: Bevis for Højere Teknisk Eksamen (HTX)

Videregående uddannelser

= Bevis for = Eksamensbevis som (erhversakademiuddannelse AK)

Bachelorgrad (B.A or B. Sc)

Professionsbachelorgrad

Diplomingeniør

Kandidatgrad/Candidatus

Master/Magistergrad (Mag.Art)

Licenciatgrad

Ph.d.-grad

Deutschland

Abitur/Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife

Fachabitur/Zeugnis der Fachhochschulreife

Fachhochschulabschluss

Bachelor

Hochschulabschluss /

Fachhochschulabschluss /

Master

Magister Artium

Staatsexamen/Diplom

Erstes Juristisches Staatsexamen

Doktorgrad

Eesti

Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus + riigieksamitunnistus

Lõputunnistus kutsekeskhariduse omandamise kohta

Tunnistus keskhariduse baasil kutsekeskhariduse omandamise kohta

Bakalaureusekraad (min 120 ainepunkti)

Bakalaureusekraad (< 160 ainepunkti)

Rakenduskõrghariduse diplom

Bakalaureusekraad (160 ainepunkti)

Magistrikraad

Arstikraad

Hambaarstikraad

Loomaarstikraad

Filosoofiadoktor

Doktorikraad (120–160 ainepunkti)

Éire/Ireland

Ardteistiméireacht Grád D3 i 5 ábhar

Leaving Certificate Grade D3 in 5 subjects

Gairmchlár na hArdteistiméireachta (GCAT)

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP)

Teastas Náisiúnta

National Certificate

Céim bhaitsiléara

Ordinary bachelor degree

Dioplóma Náisiúnta (ND, Dip.)

National Diploma (ND, Dip.)

Dámhachtain Ardteastas Ardoideachais (120 ECTS)

Higher Certificate (120 ECTS)

Céim onórach bhaitsiléara (3 bliana/180 ECTS) (BA, B.Sc, B.Eng)

Honours bachelor degree (3 years/180 ECTS) (BA, B.Sc, B.Eng)

Céim onórach bhaitsiléara (4 bliana/240 ECTS)

Honours bachelor degree (4 years/240 ECTS) Céim ollscoile

University degree

Céim mháistir (60-120 ECTS)

Master's degree (60-120 ECTS)

Céim dochtúra

Doctorate

Ελλάδα

α)

Απολυτήριο Γενικού Λυκείου

| β) | Απολυτήριο Κλασικού Λυκείου |
| --- | --- |

β)

Απολυτήριο Κλασικού Λυκείου

| γ) | Απολυτήριο Τεχνικού —Επαγγελματικού Λυκείου |
| --- | --- |

γ)

Απολυτήριο Τεχνικού —Επαγγελματικού Λυκείου

| δ) | Απολυτήριο Ενιαίου Πολυκλαδικού Λυκείου |
| --- | --- |

δ)

Απολυτήριο Ενιαίου Πολυκλαδικού Λυκείου

Απολυτήριο Ενιαίου Λυκείου

Απολυτήριο Τεχνολογικού Επαγγελματικού Εκπαιδευτηρίου

Απολυτήριο Γενικού Λυκείου

Απολυτήριο Επαγγελματικού Λυκείου

Δίπλωμα επαγγελματικής κατάρτισης (I.Ε.Κ.)

Πτυχίο (ΑΕΙ πανεπιστημίου, πολυτεχνείου, ΤΕΙ υποχρεωτικής τετραετούς φοίτησης) (4 χρόνια/1ος κύκλος)

Μεταπτυχιακό Δίπλωμα Ειδίκευσης (2ος κύκλος)

Διδακτορικό Δίπλωμα (3ος κύκλος)

España

Bachillerato + Curso de Orientación Universitaria (COU)

Bachillerato

BUP

Diploma de Técnico especialista

FP grado superior (Técnico superior)

Diplomado/

Ingeniero técnico

Licenciatura

Máster

Ingeniero

Título de Doctor

France

Baccalauréat

Diplôme d'accès aux études universitaires (DAEU)

Brevet de technicien

Diplôme d'études universitaires générales (DEUG)

Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS)

Diplôme universitaire de technologie (DUT)

Diplôme d'études universitaires scientifiques et techniques (DEUST)

Licence

Maîtrise

MST (maîtrise des sciences et techniques), MSG (maîtrise des sciences de gestion), DEST (diplôme d'études supérieures techniques), DRT (diplôme de recherche technologique), DESS (diplôme d'études supérieures

spécialisées), DEA (diplôme

d'études approfondies)

Master 1, master 2 professionnel,

Master 2 recherche

Diplôme des grandes écoles

Diplôme d'ingénieur

Doctorat

Italia

Diploma di maturità (vecchio ordinamento)

Perito Ragioniere

Diploma di superamento dell'esame di Stato conclusivo dei corsi di studio di istruzione secondaria superiore

Diploma universitario (DU)

Certificato di Specializzazione Tecnica Superiore/

Attestato di competenza (4 semestri)

Diploma di Laurea — L (breve)

Diploma di Laurea (DL)

Laurea specialistica (LS)

Master di I livello

Dottorato di ricerca (DR)

Κύπρος

Απολυτήριο

Δίπλωμα = Programmes offered by Public/Private Schools of Higher Education (for the later accreditation is compulsory)

Higher Diploma

Πανεπιστημιακό Πτυχίο/Bachelor

Master

Doctorat

Latvija

Atestāts par vispārējo vidējo izglītību

Diploms par profesionālo vidējo izglītību

Diploms par pirmā līmeņa profesionālo augstāko izglītību

Bakalaura diploms (min. 120 kredīti)

Bakalaura diploms (160 kredīti)

Profesionālā bakalaura diploms

Maģistra diploms

Profesionālā maģistra diploms

Doktora grāds

Lietuva

Brandos atestatas

Aukštojo mokslo diplomas

Aukštesniojo mokslo diplomas

Profesinio bakalauro diplomas

Aukštojo mokslo diplomas

Aukštojo mokslo diplomas

Bakalauro diplomas

Magistro diplomas

Daktaro diplomas

Meno licenciato diplomas

Luxembourg

Diplôme de fin d'études secondaires et techniques

BTS

Brevet de maîtrise

Brevet de technicien supérieur

Diplôme de premier cycle universitaire (DPCU)

Diplôme universitaire de technologie (DUT)

Bachelor

Diplôme d'ingénieur technicien

Master

Diplôme d'ingénieur industriel

DESS en droit européen

Magyarország

Gimnáziumi érettségi bizonyítvány

Szakközépiskolai Érettségi – Képesítő

Bizonyítvány

Felsőfokú szakképesítést igazoló bizonyítvány (Higher Vocational Program)

Főiskolai Oklevél

Alapfokozat (Bachelor degree 180 credits)

Egyetemi Oklevél

Alapfokozat (Bachelor degree 240 credits)

Mesterfokozat (Master degree)

(Osztatlan mesterképzés)

Doktori fokozat

Malta

Advanced Matriculation or GCE Advanced level in 3 subjects (2 of them grade C or higher)

Matriculation certificate (2 subjects at Advanced level and 4 at Intermediate level including Systems of Knowledge with overall grade A-C) + Passes in the Secondary Education Certificate examination at Grade 5

2 A Levels (passes A-E) + a number of subjects at Ordinary level, or equivalent

MCAST diplomas/certificates

Higher National Diploma

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

Master of Arts

Doctorate

Nederland

Diploma VWO

Diploma staatsexamen (2 diploma's)

Diploma staatsexamen voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs

(Diploma staatsexamen VWO)

Diploma staatsexamen hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs (Diploma staatsexamen HAVO)

Kandidaatsexamen

Associate degree (AD)

Bachelor (WO)

HBO bachelor degree

Baccalaureus of „Ingenieur”

HBO/WO Master's degree

Doctoraal examen/Doctoraat

Österreich

Matura/Reifeprüfung

Reife- und Diplomprüfung

Berufsreifeprüfung

Kollegdiplom/

Akademiediplom

Fachhochschuldiplom/Bakkalaureus(rea)

Universitätsdiplom /

Fachhochschuldiplom/

Magister (tra)

Diplomprüfung, Diplom-Ingenieur

Magisterprüfungszeugnis Rigorosenzeugnis

Doktortitel

Polska

Świadectwo dojrzałości

Świadectwo ukończenia liceum ogólnokształcącego

Dyplom ukończenia kolegium nauczycielskiego

Świadectwo ukończenia szkoły policealnej

Licencjat/Inżynier

Magister/Magister inżynier

Dyplom doktora

Portugal

Diploma de Ensino Secundário/

Certificado de Habilitações do Ensino Secundário

Bacharel

Licenciado

Licenciado

Mestre

Doutorado

Republika Hrvatska

Svjedodžba o državnoj maturi

Svjedodžba o zavrsnom ispitu

stručni pristupnik/pristupnica

Baccalaureus/Baccalaurea (sveučilišni prvostupnik/prvostupnica)

Baccalaureus/Baccalaurea (sveučilišni prvostupnik/prvostupnica)

stručni specijalist

magistar struke

magistar inženjer/magistrica inženjerka (mag. ing).

doktor struke

doktor umjetnosti

România

Diplomă de bacalaureat

Diplomă de absolvire

(Colegiu universitar)

învățământ preuniversitar

Diplomă de licenţă

Diplomă de licenţă

Diplomă de inginer

Diplomă de urbanist

Diplomă de master

Certificat de atestare (studii academice

postuniversitare)

Diplomă de doctor

Slovenija

Maturitetno spričevalo

(spričevalo o poklicni maturi)

(spričevalo o zaključnem izpitu)

Diploma višje strokovne šole

Diploma o pridobljeni visoki strokovni izobrazbi

Univerzitetna diploma/magisterij/specializacija/doktorat

Slovensko

vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške

absolventský diplom

diplom o ukončení bakalárskeho štúdia (bakalár)

diplom o ukončení vysokoškolského štúdia

bakalár (Bc.)

magister

magister/inžinier

ArtD

Suomi/Finland

Ylioppilastutkinto tai peruskoulu + kolmen vuoden ammatillinen koulutus – Studentexamen eller grundskola + treårig yrkesinriktad utbildning

(Betyg över avlagd yrkesexamen på andra stadiet)

Todistus yhdistelmäopinnoista

(Betyg över kombinationsstudier)

Ammatillinen opistoasteen tutkinto – Yrkesexamen på institutnivå

Kandidaatin tutkinto – Kandidatexamen/

Ammattikorkeakoulututkinto –

Yrkeshögskoleexamen (min. 120 opintoviikkoa – studieveckor)

Maisterin tutkinto – Magisterexamen /

Ammattikorkeakoulututkinto –

Yrkeshögskoleexamen (min. 160 opintoviikkoa – studieveckor)

Tohtorin tutkinto (Doktorsexamen) joko 4 vuotta tai 2 vuotta lisensiaatin tutkinnon jälkeen – antingen 4 år eller 2 år efter licentiatexamen

Lisensiaatti/Licentiat

Sverige

Slutbetyg från gymnasieskolan

(3-årig gymnasial utbildning)

Högskoleexamen (80 poäng)

Högskoleexamen, 2 år, 120 högskolepoäng

Yrkeshögskoleexamen/Kvalificerad yrkeshögskoleexamen, 1–3 år

Kandidatexamen (akademisk examen omfattande minst 120 poäng, varav 60 poäng fördjupade studier i ett ämne + uppsats motsvarande 10 poäng)

Meriter på grundnivå:

Kandidatexamen, 3 år, 180 högskolepoäng (Bachelor)

Magisterexamen (akademisk examen omfattande minst 160 poäng, varav 80 poäng fördjupade studier i ett ämne + uppsats motsvarande 20 poäng eller två uppsatser motsvarande 10 poäng vardera)

Licentiatexamen

Doktorsexamen

Meriter på avancerad nivå:

Magisterexamen, 1 år, 60 högskolepoäng

Masterexamen, 2 år, 120 högskolepoäng

Meriter på forskarnivå:

Licentiatexamen, 2 år, 120 högskolepoäng

Doktorsexamen, 4 år, 240 högskolepoäng

United Kingdom

General Certificate of Education Advanced level — 2 passes or equivalent (grades A to E)

BTEC National Diploma

General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ), advanced level

Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education, A level (VCE A level)

Higher National Diploma/Certificate (BTEC)/SCOTVEC

Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) and

Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) level 4

(Honours) Bachelor degree

NB: Master's degree in Scotland

Honours Bachelor degree

Master's degree (MA, MB, MEng, MPhil, MSc)

Doctorate

---

(1)  Access to the AST function groups is subject to the additional requirement of having appropriate professional experience of at least 3 years.

(2)  Access to grades 7 to 16 is subject to the additional requirement of having appropriate professional experience of at least 1 year.

---

ANNEX 2

General guidelines of the College of the Heads of Administration on the use of languages in EPSO competitions

It is confirmed that as a general rule the use of languages in EPSO competitions will be as follows:

| — | Stable elements on the EPSO website will be in all official languages. |
| --- | --- |

—

Stable elements on the EPSO website will be in all official languages.

| — | Competition notices, including competitions for linguists and competitions in connection with enlargement, as well as the general rules governing open competitions will be published in all official languages. |
| --- | --- |

—

Competition notices, including competitions for linguists and competitions in connection with enlargement, as well as the general rules governing open competitions will be published in all official languages.

| — | The following tests will be in all official languages:






  — | Admission tests (verbal and numerical reasoning). |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

The following tests will be in all official languages:

—

Admission tests (verbal and numerical reasoning).

| — | Language comprehension tests for translator competitions. |
| --- | --- |

—

Language comprehension tests for translator competitions.

| — | Preliminary translation tests for lawyer-linguist competitions. |
| --- | --- |

—

Preliminary translation tests for lawyer-linguist competitions.

| — | Intermediate interpreting tests (on computer) for interpreter competitions. |
| --- | --- |

—

Intermediate interpreting tests (on computer) for interpreter competitions.

| — | Competence tests (translation or interpreting) for linguist competitions. |
| --- | --- |

—

Competence tests (translation or interpreting) for linguist competitions.

It should be noted that although EPSO can organise these kinds of tests in all the official languages, this does not mean that they will systematically be held in 24 languages in all competitions. The admission tests are organised in the light of the stated first languages of applicants, and the language tests depend on the language combinations of the competitions in question.

| — | Assessment centres will be held in the candidates' second language only, chosen from English, French and German. |
| --- | --- |

—

Assessment centres will be held in the candidates' second language only, chosen from English, French and German.

Similarly, calls for expressions of interest in selection procedures for contract staff organised by the Office will be published in all official languages.

Several factors justify limiting the choice of second language.

Firstly, the interests of the service require that new recruits should be immediately operational and capable of effectively performing the duties for which they were recruited in the field or role covered by the competition.

English, French and German are the languages most widely used in the institutions. Traditionally they are the languages used in meetings of members of the institutions. They are also the languages used most often for communication both in-house and with the outside world. This is borne out by statistics on the source languages of the texts translated by the institutions' translation services.

Given the institutions' actual language requirements for the purposes of internal and external communication, one selection criterion under the first paragraph of Article 27(1) of the Staff Regulations must be a satisfactory knowledge of one of these three languages, which must be tested by simulating a realistic working situation. Knowledge of a third language as provided for in Article 45(2) of the Staff Regulations cannot be a substitute for knowledge of one of the three languages at the time of recruitment.

Secondly, limiting the languages for the subsequent stages of competitions is justified by the nature of the tests involved. In line with Article 27 of the Staff Regulations, the appointing authorities of the institutions decided to modify the selection procedures by introducing from 2010 onwards methods of assessment based on competences so as be able to predict better whether candidates are capable of performing their duties.

A substantial body of scientific research has shown that assessment centres, simulating real-life working situations, are the best predictor of real-life performance. As the most effective method of assessment, they are used worldwide. Given the length of careers and the degree of mobility within the institutions, this kind of assessment is crucial. With the help of a competency framework defined by the appointing authorities, a number of suitable exercises are chosen to assess the competences being sought. To ensure that candidates can be assessed fairly and can communicate directly with assessors and the other candidates taking part in an exercise, applying this method requires, in particular, that the assessment centre be conducted in a lingua franca or, in certain circumstances, in the one main language of the competition. In the former instance, the lingua franca has to be chosen from the languages that candidates are most likely to know.

Given this premise, everything must be done to avoid discrimination between candidates; hence everyone has to be tested in their second language. But as that language must also be a lingua franca, the choice of second language must be limited. Since the traditional usage referred to above is still the current practice in-house, that choice has to be between English, French and German. The assessment centres do not involve assessing candidates' knowledge of the language; a satisfactory knowledge of one of the three as a second language is quite sufficient to be able to take the tests (this is in line with the minimum requirements laid down by Article 28 of the Staff Regulations). This level of language knowledge is not in any way disproportionate given the real needs of the service as described above.

Use of English, French or German as the chosen second language in the later stages of competitions does not entail any discrimination on the basis of mother tongue. It is not a restriction on the use of the mother tongue. The obligation on candidates to choose a second language (English, French or German) that is different from their first (normally mother tongue or equivalent) ensures that they can be compared on an equal footing. It should also be noted that possessing a sufficient knowledge of the second language depends essentially on a personal effort by candidates.

This requirement is, in any case, proportionate in view of the real needs of the service. Limiting the second language options reflects what languages people in Europe currently know. Not only are English, French and German the languages of several Member States of the European Union, they are also the foreign languages most widely known. They are the languages most often learned as foreign languages and the languages that people think are the most useful to learn. The actual requirements of the service thus seem to be a reasonable reflection of the language skills that candidates can be expected to have, especially since language knowledge in the strict sense (errors of grammar, spelling, or vocabulary) is not assessed in the competence tests. Limiting the choice of second language to English, French or German does not, therefore, pose a disproportionate barrier for people wishing to take competitions. Indeed, to go by the information available, it closely matches what people are used to and expect.

The relevant statistics bear out the conclusion that limiting the second language options for certain stages of competitions is proportionate and non-discriminatory. For instance, English, French or German were the most frequent choices when candidates were given the option of choosing their second language from among the 11 official languages in the major generalist EU-25 competitions for administrators and assistants in 2005. The statistics for competitions after the 2010 reform show no bias in favour of nationals of the countries where English, French or German are official languages. And the statistics for the AD 2010 round of competitions show that substantial numbers of candidates still chose one of the three as their second language.

For the same reasons, it seems reasonable to require candidates to choose one of these three for communicating with EPSO and filling in the talent screener.

Consequently, in seeking a balance between the interests of the service and candidates' abilities, certain tests should be held in a limited number of European Union languages, both to ensure that successful candidates possess adequate knowledge of a combination of languages that will enable them to carry out their duties effectively and so that selection methods based on an assessment of performance can be applied. Since the competition notices and guides for candidates are published in the 24 languages of the Union and since candidates can take the important first phase of competitions in whichever of those 24 languages they choose as their mother tongue, a fair balance would seem to have been found between the interests of the service and the principle of multilingualism and non-discrimination by language.

A case-by-case choice should therefore be made in line with the language arrangements adopted by the EPSO Management Board and the institutions' specific need to be able to recruit candidates who will be operational immediately. Thus there are two possible general cases:

| — | First, general profiles or specific profiles where the main factor in selection, besides the general competences, is expertise or experience in a particular field or job. Here, the essential requirement is to be able to work and communicate in a multilingual context where the need to have a command of the languages most widely used in the institutions justifies limiting the choice of European Union languages in the selection procedure. |
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First, general profiles or specific profiles where the main factor in selection, besides the general competences, is expertise or experience in a particular field or job. Here, the essential requirement is to be able to work and communicate in a multilingual context where the need to have a command of the languages most widely used in the institutions justifies limiting the choice of European Union languages in the selection procedure.

| — | Second, profiles where knowledge of one or more languages is of particular importance, for example linguists or other profiles where the selection procedures are organised by language. Here, besides assessment of the general competences as indicated above in the first scenario, other tests of specific competences have to be organised in the language(s) in question. |
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Second, profiles where knowledge of one or more languages is of particular importance, for example linguists or other profiles where the selection procedures are organised by language. Here, besides assessment of the general competences as indicated above in the first scenario, other tests of specific competences have to be organised in the language(s) in question.

Even taking this approach, any decision limiting the number of languages in competitions should allow for consideration of the issue in the case of each individual competition so as to reflect the specific needs of the institutions as regards the profile(s) in question.

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