# CA2004280EN.01000301.xml

| 17.11.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CA 280/3 |
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17.11.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 280/3

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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION EPSO/AST/1/04

NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION EPSO/AST/1/04

(2004/C 280 A/01)

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising the following open competition, based on tests, to constitute a reserve pool from which to recruit

CLERICAL OFFICERS
   (1)
  (C*1)
   (2)

CLERICAL OFFICERS

1

(C*1)

2

(Conference technicians)

(Conference technicians)

CONTENTS

| A. | DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT) |
| --- | --- |

A.

| B. | SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION |
| --- | --- |

B.

| C. | HOW TO APPLY |
| --- | --- |

C.

| D. | GENERAL INFORMATION |
| --- | --- |

D.

| ANNEX: | Requests for review — appeal procedures — complaints to the European Ombudsman |
| --- | --- |

ANNEX:

A.   DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04 is being held to recruit clerical officers (C*1).

The purpose of this competition is to draw up a reserve list from which to fill vacant posts for conference technicians in the departments responsible for conference rooms in the European Union institutions.

Number of successful candidates: 55

I.   DUTIES

Technician, responsible in particular for sound and image technology in audiovisual installations and for dealing with this equipment during meetings and conferences, setting up and dismantling the electronic equipment required for such gatherings, managing equipment, maintenance work, repairs and adjustment of simultaneous interpreting installations in conference halls.

II.   ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

The competition is open to those candidates who, on the closing date for online registration (see section C), meet the following requirements:

closing date for online registration

1.   Certificates, diplomas and professional experience

You must have

| (i) | a level of post-secondary education, attested by a diploma, relevant to the nature of the duties described in section A.I, or |
| --- | --- |

(i)

a level of post-secondary education, attested by a diploma, relevant to the nature of the duties described in section A.I, or

| (ii) | a level of secondary education, including technical education, attested by a diploma giving access to higher education, followed by at least three years' full-time professional experience relevant to the nature of the duties described in section A.I, or |
| --- | --- |

(ii)

a level of secondary education, including technical education, attested by a diploma giving access to higher education, followed by at least three years' full-time professional experience relevant to the nature of the duties described in section A.I, or

| (iii) | vocational training relevant to the nature of the duties, attested by a diploma or certificate, followed by at least four years' full-time professional experience relevant to the nature of the duties described in section A.I. |
| --- | --- |

(iii)

vocational training relevant to the nature of the duties, attested by a diploma or certificate, followed by at least four years' full-time professional experience relevant to the nature of the duties described in section A.I.

The selection board will allow for differences between education systems. As a general guide, see the examples of the minimum qualifications required in the tables annexed to the Guide for Applicants (see EPSO's website (3)).

3

2.   Knowledge of languages (4)

4

You must have:

| (a) | a thorough knowledge of one of the following official languages of the European Union (Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or Swedish) — language 1; |
| --- | --- |

(a)

a thorough knowledge of one of the following official languages of the European Union (Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or Swedish) — language 1;

| (b) | a satisfactory knowledge of a second of these languages — language 2. |
| --- | --- |

(b)

a satisfactory knowledge of a second of these languages — language 2.

After the closing date for registration, you may not change the languages in which you have specified that you wish to take the tests.

EPSO's communications to candidates for this competition will be in English, German or French. You may, however, address EPSO in any official EU language.

Please give details of which languages you know on the online registration form (5).

5

3.   General terms and conditions

| — | You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union. |
| --- | --- |

—

You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.

| — | You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen. |
| --- | --- |

—

You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen.

| — | You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service. |
| --- | --- |

—

You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service.

| — | You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved. |
| --- | --- |

—

You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

B.   SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

1.   Pre-selection tests — marking

You will sit tests (a), (b), and (c) in your second language (language 2), as specified on the online registration form.

| (a) | A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your specialist knowledge in the field.
  This test will be marked out of 30 (pass mark: 15). |
| --- | --- |

(a)

A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your specialist knowledge in the field.

This test will be marked out of 30 (pass mark: 15).

| (b) | A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your knowledge of the European Union.
  This test will be marked out of 30 (pass mark: 15). |
| --- | --- |

(b)

A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your knowledge of the European Union.

This test will be marked out of 30 (pass mark: 15).

| (c) | A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your numerical reasoning skills.
  This test will be marked out of 30 (pass mark: 15). |
| --- | --- |

(c)

A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your numerical reasoning skills.

This test will be marked out of 30 (pass mark: 15).

Wrong answers in the pre-selection tests will not be penalised.

For all the pre-selection tests, the 170 best candidates (6) having obtained the pass mark in each of these tests, will be invited to submit a full application with a view to being admitted to the competition.

170

6

The selection board will mark your written test (d) if, after considering your application, it establishes that you meet all the eligibility criteria.

NOTE: for organisational reasons, written test (d) will be held on the same day as pre-selection tests (a), (b) and (c).

NOTE

The fact that you have been invited to sit written test (d) at the same time as the pre-selection tests (a), (b) and (c) does not mean you have been admitted to the competition.

2.   Written test - marking

| (d) | This test, in your main language (language 1) will consist of establishing an electronic diagram relating to a situation you might encounter in the performance of your duties.
  This test will be marked out of 50 (pass mark: 25). |
| --- | --- |

(d)

This test, in your main language (language 1) will consist of establishing an electronic diagram relating to a situation you might encounter in the performance of your duties.

This test will be marked out of 50 (pass mark: 25).

The selection board will invite to the practical test (e) and oral test (f) the 85 best candidates () who have obtained the pass mark in written test (d) and who meet the conditions for admission to the competition.

85

3.   Practical and oral tests — marking

| (e) | Practical test in your main language (language 1) related to the maintenance and operation of technical installations (simultaneous interpreting, sound recording and amplification equipment, audiovisual equipment).
  This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20). |
| --- | --- |

(e)

Practical test in your main language (language 1) related to the maintenance and operation of technical installations (simultaneous interpreting, sound recording and amplification equipment, audiovisual equipment).

This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20).

| (f) | Interview in your main language (language 1) with the selection board to enable it to assess your suitability to carry out the duties described at section A.I. above. The interview will focus in particular on your specialist knowledge in the field concerned and your knowledge of the European Union. Your knowledge of language 2 will also be tested. The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment.
  This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20). |
| --- | --- |

(f)

Interview in your main language (language 1) with the selection board to enable it to assess your suitability to carry out the duties described at section A.I. above. The interview will focus in particular on your specialist knowledge in the field concerned and your knowledge of the European Union. Your knowledge of language 2 will also be tested. The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment.

This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20).

4.   Date and time allowed for the tests

The pre-selection tests and the written tests will be held simultaneously for all applicants at one or more centres in the European Union.

It is not possible to change the date, which will be scheduled by the European Personnel Selection Office, at an applicant's request.

The time allowed for the pre-selection and other tests will be decided by the selection board; you will be notified of this when you receive your invitation to the tests.

5.   Inscription on the reserve list

The selection board will draw up a reserve list, divided into (no more than four) merit classes sorted in alphabetical order, of the best candidates () (see section A, number of successful candidates) in written test (d), practical test (e) and oral test (f) combined, and having obtained the pass mark in each of these tests.

The reserve list, together with its expiry date, will be published (7) in the Official Journal of the European Union as well as on the EPSO website
   ().

Official Journal of the European Union

on the EPSO website

C.   HOW TO APPLY

Please refer also to the Guide for Applicants, which can be found on the EPSO website (). It contains detailed instructions to help you submit your application correctly.

1.   Electronic inscription

Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria (see section A, particularly concerning the types of diploma and professional experience required).

If you wish to apply, you must do so via the Internet by going to the EPSO website () and following the instructions there concerning the various stages of the procedure.

It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time
   (8). We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy Internet traffic or a fault with your Internet connection could lead to the online registration being terminated before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process. Once the deadline for the submission of registrations has passed, you will not be able to register.

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On completion of your online registration, you will receive on screen a registration number that you must note - this will be your reference number in all matters concerning your application. Once you receive this number, the process is finished - it is the confirmation that we have registered the data you entered.

If you do not receive a number, your application has not been registered!

If you do not receive a number, your application has not been registered!

Please note that you must have an e-mail address. This will be used to identify your registration. The information you must enter in your registration includes the languages you choose (see A.II.2), and the particulars of your qualifications (title, name of issuing establishment and date obtained).

Once registered, you can use the website (click on ‘Ongoing competitions’) to follow the progress of the competition.

If you have a disability that prevents you from sending an online application, you may request, preferably by fax, a paper version of the form
   (9)
  , which you should fill in, sign and return by registered mail, postmarked no later than the closing date for registration.

If you have a disability that prevents you from sending an online application, you may request, preferably by fax,

9

, which you should fill in, sign and return by registered mail, postmarked no later than the closing date for registration.

You must enclose with your application form a certificate attesting your disability, issued by a recognised body. You should also set out on a separate sheet of paper any special arrangements you think are needed to make it easier for you to take part in the tests.

You must enclose with your application form a certificate attesting your disability, issued by a recognised body. You should also set out on a separate sheet of paper any special arrangements you think are needed to make it easier for you to take part in the tests.

The closing date for registration is 21 December 2004. Online registration will not be possible after 12 noon Brussels time.

The closing date for registration is 21 December 2004. Online registration will not be possible after 12 noon Brussels time.

NB:
  Within one month following the final date for registration, EPSO will invite you to confirm your application and, where applicable, to choose the city in which you wish to sit the pre-selection test.
  The invitation and confirmation will take place solely via the EPSO file.
  If you do not confirm your application within two months following the final date for registration, EPSO will consider that you have withdrawn your application, which will be terminated.

NB:

Within one month following the final date for registration, EPSO will invite you to confirm your application and, where applicable, to choose the city in which you wish to sit the pre-selection test.

The invitation and confirmation will take place solely via the EPSO file.

If you do not confirm your application within two months following the final date for registration, EPSO will consider that you have withdrawn your application, which will be terminated

2.   Pre-selection tests/written test

The applicants invited to the pre-selection/written test will be those who are found to meet the general terms and conditions (see A.II.3) after EPSO has carried out a preliminary eligibility check based on the information given in the registration forms and have confirmed their application within the necessary deadline.

3.   Invitation to pre-selection and other tests

Information about the invitation to attend the pre-selection/written tests, the full application form and the invitation to the practical and oral tests will be available only on the EPSO website (). You can access it using the user name and password you specify when registering. You are responsible for updating any change, via your EPSO profile, in your postal or e-mail address

only

You are responsible for keeping track of the progress of the competition, ensuring that for each stage you can access the information relevant to your application by consulting your EPSO file. If you find that you cannot do this, it is your responsibility to notify EPSO by e-mail (10).

As far as possible you will be asked to sit the pre-selection tests and the written test in the city chosen in the confirmation of participation. For organisational reasons you will not be able to switch to another venue unless you can prove that you have changed residence and informed EPSO of this change three weeks at the latest before the date foreseen for the preselection and written tests.

For organisational reasons you will not be able to switch to another venue unless you can prove that you have changed residence and informed EPSO of this change three weeks at the latest before the date foreseen for the preselection and written tests.

In principal, the practical and oral tests will be held in Brussels.

4.   Full application

The best candidates () as referred to in section B.1. will be asked to print and complete the full application form which they will find in their EPSO file on the website (). It must be sent in by the closing date (11).

) as referred to in section B.1. will be asked to print and complete the full application form which they will find in their EPSO file on the website (). It must be sent in by the closing date (11

Documents to enclose with the application form

You should send only photocopies of these documents.

You should send only photocopies of these documents.

Your application must give full details of your citizenship, studies and professional experience. You should also enclose on a separate sheet of paper a list of the following supporting documents (uncertified copies), which should be numbered:

| — | a document proving your citizenship, |
| --- | --- |

—

a document proving your citizenship,

| — | diploma(s), |
| --- | --- |

—

diploma(s),

| — | evidence of professional experience clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates and the exact nature of the duties carried out. |
| --- | --- |

—

evidence of professional experience clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates and the exact nature of the duties carried out.

You must fill in the application form in full, i.e. you may not simply refer to any previous application forms submitted or to any other documents enclosed with such applications. None of the documents submitted with your application will be returned

You must fill in the application form in full, i.e. you may not simply refer to any previous application forms submitted or to any other documents enclosed with such applications. None of the documents submitted with your application will be returned

Signing and sending the form

It is your responsibility to make sure that your application form, duly completed, signed and accompanied by all the supporting documents, is sent in time
   ()
  by registered post (the postmark will serve as proof of the date of sending) to the following address:

()

| European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) |
| --- |
| Mail service |
| CORT 80 |
| Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04 |
| B-1049 Brussels. |

European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

Mail service

CORT 80

Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04

B-1049 Brussels.

Scrutiny of applications

The selection board will examine the files of the best candidates in the pre-selection tests who have obtained the pass mark in each of the tests to determine whether they meet the conditions laid down in section A.II.1. and 2 of this notice. The selection board will then mark the written tests of the candidates who meet all the conditions for admission set out in section A.II. and will invite the best candidates (see B.2) to the practical and oral tests.

You will automatically be disqualified if:

You will automatically be disqualified if:

| — | you have posted your application after the closing date, |
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—

you have posted your application after the closing date,

| — | you have not completed and/or signed the application form, |
| --- | --- |

—

you have not completed and/or signed the application form,

| — | you do not meet all the eligibility criteria, |
| --- | --- |

—

you do not meet all the eligibility criteria,

| — | you have not sent all the supporting documents before the closing date. |
| --- | --- |

—

you have not sent all the supporting documents before the closing date.

NB: If you do not give all the required information in your online registration, you will not be invited to sit the tests. Similarly, if you are successful in the pre-selection tests but fail to return the full application form duly completed and signed and accompanied by the requisite supporting documents within the time limit specified (), you will not be admitted to the next stage of the competition.

NB:

5.   Establishment of the reserve list

The best candidates (see section B.5) will be included in the reserve list.

| 6. | If, at any stage in the procedure, it is established that the information on your electronic registration form or official application form is incorrect you will be disqualified. |
| --- | --- |

6.

| 7. | To facilitate the administration of the competition, in all correspondence you should give your FULL NAME AS IN YOUR APPLICATION, THE NUMBER OF THE COMPETITION AND YOUR LANGUAGE 1, TOGETHER WITH THE REFERENCE NUMBER YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOUR ONLINE REGISTRATION IS ACCEPTED. |
| --- | --- |

7.

To facilitate the administration of the competition, in all correspondence you should give your FULL NAME AS IN YOUR APPLICATION, THE NUMBER OF THE COMPETITION AND YOUR LANGUAGE 1, TOGETHER WITH THE REFERENCE NUMBER YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOUR ONLINE REGISTRATION IS ACCEPTED.

D.   GENERAL INFORMATION

1.   Equal opportunities

The European Union Institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without distinction on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religious, political or other convictions or opinions, belonging to a national minority, financial situation, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or family situation.

2.   Selection board

A selection board is appointed for each competition. It is made up of members representing both the Administration and the Staff Committee of the Institutions. The names of the members of the selection board will be published on the EPSO website () approximately two weeks before the pre-selection/written tests.

You are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board, either directly or indirectly. Any infringement of this rule will disqualify you from the competition.

EPSO is responsible for all communication with applicants until the competition is completed.

3.   Indicative schedule

The competition will take approximately nine months after the closing date for confirmation of participation, depending on the number of applicants.

Full details will be available on the EPSO website ().

4.   Requests for review — appeal procedures — complaints to the European Ombudsman

See Annex.

5.   Recruitment

If you are placed on the reserve list you will be eligible for appointment as a probationary official as and when required by the European institutions, in Brussels, Luxembourg or any other place of activity.

If you are offered a post, you will be asked to produce the originals of all the requisite documents such as diplomas, so that copies can be authenticated.

Recruitment will depend on vacant posts and funds becoming available.

Depending on the nature of a post, candidates on the reserve list may initially be offered a temporary contract; in this case, their names will remain on the reserve list.

| 6. | You should note that the retirement age for staff is laid down in the Staff Regulations as follows: |
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6.

You should note that the retirement age for staff is laid down in the Staff Regulations as follows:

| — | either automatically at the age of 65 years, |
| --- | --- |

—

either automatically at the age of 65 years,

| — | or, at the official's own request, at the age of 63 years or where the official is between 55 and 63 years of age and satisfies, as specified in the Staff Regulations, the requirements for immediate payment of a pension, |
| --- | --- |

—

or, at the official's own request, at the age of 63 years or where the official is between 55 and 63 years of age and satisfies, as specified in the Staff Regulations, the requirements for immediate payment of a pension,

| — | exceptionally, at the official's own request and where it is considered to be in the interest of the service, at the age of 67 at the latest. |
| --- | --- |

—

exceptionally, at the official's own request and where it is considered to be in the interest of the service, at the age of 67 at the latest.

7.   Grade

Staff will be recruited from the reserve list at grade C*1.

8.   Remuneration

Basic monthly salary as at 1 May 2004:

grade C*1, first step: EUR2 325,33,

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(1)  The European Union Institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without distinction on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religious, political or other convictions or opinions, belonging to a national minority, financial situation, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or family situation.

1

(2)  The Council has adopted new Staff Regulations involving a new career structure. Recruitment will be based on the new Staff Regulations, in accordance with Annex XIII, Section 2, and in particular Article 12 (see

2

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/personnel_administration/statut/tocen100.pdf).

(3)  http://europa.eu.int/epso/on-line-applications/guide_en.htm

3

(4)  Article 2 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 401/2004 of 23 February 2004 lays down that until 31 December 2010, open competitions are to be held to recruit officials with one of these eleven as their main language.

4

(5)  For practical reasons this form is available only in English, French and German.

5

(6)  If a number of candidates have obtained the same number of marks for the last place, the selection board will admit all of them.

6

(7)  A successful candidate may explicitly request that his/her name not be published.

7

(8)  No later than 12 noon, Brussels time, on 21 December 2004.

8

(9)  Write to EPSO - Info-recruitment - CORT 80 0/48 - B-1049 Brussels — Fax: + 32 2295 74 88.

9

(10)  E-mail address: epso-AST/1/04-en@cec.eu.int

10

(11)  The closing date will be indicated in good time in your EPSO file.

11

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ANNEX

REQUESTS FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE RECONSIDERED - APPEAL PROCEDURES — COMPLAINTS TO THE EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN

If, at any stage of the competition, you consider that your interests have been prejudiced by a particular decision, you can:

| — | Request that your application be reconsidered:

  You can request that your application be reconsidered by sending a letter within 20 days of the date of dispatch of the letter informing you of the decision, setting out the reasons, to:





  European Personnel Selection Office |
| --- | --- |
| CORT 80 |
| Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

—

Request that your application be reconsidered:

You can request that your application be reconsidered by sending a letter within 20 days of the date of dispatch of the letter informing you of the decision, setting out the reasons, to:

European Personnel Selection Office

CORT 80

Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04

B-1049 Brussels

EPSO will forward your request to the Chair of the selection board where it comes within the board's remit. A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible.

| — | Appeal:







  — | you can bring a case before:





  The Court of First Instance of the European Communities |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Boulevard Konrad Adenauer |
| L-2925 Luxembourg |

—

Appeal:

—

you can bring a case before:

The Court of First Instance of the European Communities

Boulevard Konrad Adenauer

L-2925 Luxembourg

under Article 236 of the EC Treaty and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, or

| — | you can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of officials and other servants of the European Communities, at the following address:





  European Personnel Selection Office |
| --- | --- |
| CORT 80 |
| Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

—

you can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of officials and other servants of the European Communities, at the following address:

European Personnel Selection Office

CORT 80

Open competition EPSO/AST/1/04

B-1049 Brussels

The time limits for initiating these two types of procedure (see Staff Regulations published in
  Official Journal of the European Communities L 56 of 4 March 1968 — http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex) start to run from the time you are notified of the act allegedly prejudicing your interests.

Please note that the appointing authority does not have the power to amend the decisions of a selection board. The Court has consistently held that the wide discretion enjoyed by selection boards is not subject to review by the Court unless rules which govern the proceedings of selection boards have clearly been infringed.

| — | Complain to the European Ombudsman:

  You can, like all citizens of the Union, make a complaint to





  The European Ombudsman |
| --- | --- |
| 1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman - BP 403 |
| F-67001 Strasbourg Cedex (France) |

—

Complain to the European Ombudsman:

You can, like all citizens of the Union, make a complaint to

The European Ombudsman

1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman - BP 403

F-67001 Strasbourg Cedex (France)

under Article 195(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Decision of the European Parliament of 9 March 1994 on the Staff Regulations and the general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties, published in Official Journal of the European Communities L 113 of 4.5.94.

Note that complaints made to the Ombudsman have no suspensive effect on the period laid down in Articles 90(2) and 91 of the Staff Regulations for lodging, respectively, a complaint or an appeal with the Court of First Instance under Article 236 of the EC Treaty.

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