# CA2005135EN.01002501.xml

| 2.6.2005 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CA 135/25 |
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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION

(2005/C 135 A/02)

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising the following open competitions( 1 ), based on tests, to constitute a reserve pool from which to recruit

| EPSO/AD/23/05
ADMINISTRATORS (JUNIOR AUDITORS — A*5) | EPSO/AD/24/05
ADMINISTRATORS (SENIOR AUDIT OFFICERS — A*9) |
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of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene and Slovak citizenship

CONTENTS

| A. | DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT) | |
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| B. | THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE COMPETITION | |
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| C. | HOW TO APPLY | |
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| D. | GENERAL INFORMATION | |
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| ANNEX: | Requests for applications to be reconsidered — Appeal procedures — Complaints to the European Ombudsman | |
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A.   DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

Open competitions EPSO/AD/23/05 and EPSO/AD/24/05 are being held to recruit administrators of grade A*5 (junior auditors) and administrators of grade A*9 (senior audit officers), of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene and Slovak citizenship.

The purpose of these competitions is to draw up reserve lists from which to fill vacant posts in the institutions of the European Union, and in the first place at the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.

Number of successful candidates by competition:

A*5: 90

A*9: 25

| — | EPSO/AD/21-22/05, heads of unit (A*9) and heads of unit (A*12) of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene and Slovak citizenship, in the following fields: internal market, external relations, management of research programmes, management of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, management of sustainable resources, |
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| — | EPSO/AD/23-24/05, administrators (A*5, junior auditors) and administrators (A*9 senior audit officers) of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene and Slovak citizenship. |
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Please note that the tests for the above competitions may be held simultaneously. You may therefore apply for one of these competitions only. You must choose which one when you register online, and cannot change it after the closing date for inscription.

To ensure that all general texts relating to the competition and all communication between candidates and EPSO are clearly understood on both sides, the competition notices are being published solely in English, French and German. These three languages will also be used for the invitations to the various tests and correspondence between EPSO and candidates.

The language you choose for the pre-selection tests will be the language used for communicating with you.

I.   DUTIES

Audit work is carried out in a variety of contexts within the European institutions. The main audit activities are:

| — | external audit, including both financial audits and examinations of sound financial management, |
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| — | internal audit, in either a centralised or a decentralised audit service, |
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| — | checking on entities, both public and private, which are managing or using Community funds. |
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This may entail:

| — | examining whether resources are being used efficiently and economically and achieving effective results, |
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| — | examining operations to check whether the results are consistent with the goals and objectives, and that activities are carried out as planned, |
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| — | assessing and managing the risks associated with Community funds allocated to or collected by the various European institutions and bodies, their partners, intermediaries and the ultimate beneficiaries/debtors, |
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| — | evaluating and testing the effectiveness of internal control systems, both within the Institutions and in bodies which are managing or benefiting from Community funding or identifying and collecting Community revenue, |
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| — | examining the reliability and integrity of information systems, |
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| — | examining the measures taken to safeguard assets, |
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| — | undertaking the financial checks necessary to ensure the probity of expenditure claims, and the sound financial management of Community grants and projects financed from Community funds, |
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| — | examining the legality and correctness of budgetary and financial operations, |
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| — | auditing financial statements for reliability, |
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| — | assessing the systems by which organisations are directed and controlled. |
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The European institutions place particular importance on the ability of candidates to grasp problems of all kinds, often complex in nature, to react rapidly to changing circumstances and to communicate effectively. You will have to show initiative and imagination and be highly motivated. You should be able to work frequently under pressure, both on your own and in a team, and to adjust to a multicultural working environment. You should be prepared to develop your professional skills throughout your career.

II.   ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

You may apply for one of these competitions if you meet the following requirements:

1.   Qualifications

| EPSO/AD/23/05 (A*5)
You must have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned.
This diploma or professional qualification must be obtained by 30 September 2005 at the latest . | EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9)
By the closing date for online inscription, you must have obtained:
(i)
a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma, when the normal period of university education is four years or more or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned. or
(ii)
a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is at least three years or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned and appropriate professional experience of at least one year. | (i) | a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma, when the normal period of university education is four years or more or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned. | (ii) | a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is at least three years or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned and appropriate professional experience of at least one year. |
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| (i) | a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma, when the normal period of university education is four years or more or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned. | | | | |
| (ii) | a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is at least three years or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to the duties concerned and appropriate professional experience of at least one year. | | | | |

If your degree is not in a field relevant to the duties concerned, you must have an additional qualification which is relevant.

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( 2 )(see EPSO's website) for each category. Note that these are examples only, more stringent requirements may be set in any given notice of competition.

If you are in doubt, you should check the level of your qualifications with the competent national authorities.

Note that some of the tests will be on subjects that will require you to have in-depth knowledge in the field of auditing, accounting and finance or management relevant to the duties described in section A.I.

2.   Professional experience

| EPSO/AD/23/05 (A*5)
No professional experience is required. | EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9)
By the closing date for online inscription: you must have gained at least 10 years' full time professional experience relevant to the duties concerned of which three years in management positions, i.e. managing teams of auditors (or similar). This experience must have been obtained after obtaining the four-year diploma or after obtaining the three-year diploma with the one year relevant professional experience. |
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3.   Languages

| (a) | Main language
You must have a thorough knowledge of one of the following official languages of the European Union: Czech, Estonian, Greek, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene, Slovak.
By way of exception, Cypriot citizens who do not have Greek as their main language may choose one of the other official languages listed in A.II.3(b). |
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| (b) | Second language (must be different from the main language)
You must have a satisfactory knowledge of one of the following official languages: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish. |
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| (c) | Language for the pre-selection tests (must be different from the main language)
Given that, in these competitions, pre-selection tests (a) and (b) will be held in either English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE) (see section B.1), a good working knowledge of one of these three languages is essential. When registering, you may retain the choice specified for your second language (see section A.II.3(b) if this choice corresponds to one of the above three languages (DE/EN/FR).
You must state in the online inscription form
( 3 )
and the paper application which languages you choose for each of the different tests. After the deadline for confirmation of your inscription, you may not change the languages in which you have specified that you wish to take the tests (see C.1). |
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4.   General terms and conditions

| — | You must: be a citizen of one of the following Member States: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, |
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| — | enjoy your full rights as a citizen, |
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| — | have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service, |
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| — | meet the character requirements for the duties involved. |
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B.   THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

1.    Pre-selection tests — marking

You will sit tests (a) and (b) (identical for both competitions) in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE), as specified on the online inscription form.

| (a) | A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your verbal reasoning skills.
This test will be marked out of 50.
(Time allowed: 45 minutes) |
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| (b) | 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 50.
(Time allowed: 45 minutes)
The pass-mark for tests (a) and (b) together is 60 points.
Wrong answers made in the pre-selection tests will not be penalised. |
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2.   Written test — marking

| (c) | Test on a subject in the field to assess your:—
knowledge of the chosen field, —
comprehension skills and ability to analyse and summarise, and —
drafting skills. Time allowed for the test (normally): two hours (see B.4). This test will be marked out of 40 (pass-mark: 20). Candidates for open competition EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9) will have a further test to do. The subjects will be set in the following official languages of the European Union: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish. You may answer in any one of these languages as follows:
—
either English, French or German as in the pre-selection tests, —
or another of the official languages listed above but not your main language. | — | knowledge of the chosen field, | — | comprehension skills and ability to analyse and summarise, and | — | drafting skills. | | Time allowed for the test (normally): two hours (see B.4). | | This test will be marked out of 40 (pass-mark: 20). | | Candidates for open competition EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9) will have a further test to do. | | The subjects will be set in the following official languages of the European Union: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish. | | You may answer in any one of these languages as follows:
—
either English, French or German as in the pre-selection tests, —
or another of the official languages listed above but not your main language. | — | either English, French or German as in the pre-selection tests, | — | or another of the official languages listed above but not your main language. |
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| — | knowledge of the chosen field, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | comprehension skills and ability to analyse and summarise, and | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | drafting skills. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Time allowed for the test (normally): two hours (see B.4). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | This test will be marked out of 40 (pass-mark: 20). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Candidates for open competition EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9) will have a further test to do. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | The subjects will be set in the following official languages of the European Union: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | You may answer in any one of these languages as follows:
—
either English, French or German as in the pre-selection tests, —
or another of the official languages listed above but not your main language. | — | either English, French or German as in the pre-selection tests, | — | or another of the official languages listed above but not your main language. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | either English, French or German as in the pre-selection tests, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | or another of the official languages listed above but not your main language. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

NB: The aim of this test is not to verify whether you know a third language. Whether you choose one and the same language, or two different languages, for the pre-selection tests and the written test (c) will not have any bearing on the assessment of your performance.

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

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

The written test will be marked only if the candidates( 4 ) (see table below) meet both the following conditions:

| (i) | you have obtained the pass-mark for pre-selection tests (a) and (b) together; |
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| (ii) | you have obtained one of the best marks for all these tests. |
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| EPSO/AD/23/05 (A*5)
270 | EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9)
75 |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------- |

You will be invited to submit a full application with a view to possible admission to the competition.

The selection board will mark your written test (c) if, after considering your application, it establishes that you meet all the eligibility criteria. The candidates( 3 ) (see table below) with the highest marks in the written test (c) and the pass-mark will then be admitted to the oral test (d) (an interview with the selection board).

| EPSO/AD/23/05 (A*5)
135 | EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9)
38 |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------- |

3.   Oral test — marking

| EPSO/AD/23/05 (A*5)
(d)
Interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:
—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. | (d) | Interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:
—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. | — | specialised knowledge in the field, | — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | — | knowledge of languages (your main language). | EPSO/AD/24/05 (A*9)
(d)
(i)
Before the interview with the selection board, candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be asked to take part in tests in an assessment centre, in either English, French or German. For organisational reasons, these tests and the interview will be held in Brussels or Luxembourg on consecutive days. The results of the tests will be passed on to the selection board as expert technical input for its decision-making process.
The tests may include:
—
an exercise to assess management ability, —
an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. (ii)
The day after these tests, you will be invited to an interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. | (d) | (i)
Before the interview with the selection board, candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be asked to take part in tests in an assessment centre, in either English, French or German. For organisational reasons, these tests and the interview will be held in Brussels or Luxembourg on consecutive days. The results of the tests will be passed on to the selection board as expert technical input for its decision-making process.
The tests may include:
—
an exercise to assess management ability, —
an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. (ii)
The day after these tests, you will be invited to an interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. | (i) | Before the interview with the selection board, candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be asked to take part in tests in an assessment centre, in either English, French or German. For organisational reasons, these tests and the interview will be held in Brussels or Luxembourg on consecutive days. The results of the tests will be passed on to the selection board as expert technical input for its decision-making process.
The tests may include:
—
an exercise to assess management ability, —
an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | — | an exercise to assess management ability, | — | an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | (ii) | The day after these tests, you will be invited to an interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). | — | specialised knowledge in the field, | — | professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, | — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | — | knowledge of languages (your main language). |
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| (d) | Interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:
—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. | — | specialised knowledge in the field, | — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | — | knowledge of languages (your main language). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | specialised knowledge in the field, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | knowledge of languages (your main language). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (d) | (i)
Before the interview with the selection board, candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be asked to take part in tests in an assessment centre, in either English, French or German. For organisational reasons, these tests and the interview will be held in Brussels or Luxembourg on consecutive days. The results of the tests will be passed on to the selection board as expert technical input for its decision-making process.
The tests may include:
—
an exercise to assess management ability, —
an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. (ii)
The day after these tests, you will be invited to an interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. | (i) | Before the interview with the selection board, candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be asked to take part in tests in an assessment centre, in either English, French or German. For organisational reasons, these tests and the interview will be held in Brussels or Luxembourg on consecutive days. The results of the tests will be passed on to the selection board as expert technical input for its decision-making process.
The tests may include:
—
an exercise to assess management ability, —
an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | — | an exercise to assess management ability, | — | an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | (ii) | The day after these tests, you will be invited to an interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). | — | specialised knowledge in the field, | — | professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, | — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | — | knowledge of languages (your main language). | | | | | | | | | | |
| (i) | Before the interview with the selection board, candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be asked to take part in tests in an assessment centre, in either English, French or German. For organisational reasons, these tests and the interview will be held in Brussels or Luxembourg on consecutive days. The results of the tests will be passed on to the selection board as expert technical input for its decision-making process.
The tests may include:
—
an exercise to assess management ability, —
an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | — | an exercise to assess management ability, | — | an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | an exercise to assess management ability, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | an interview with a human resources expert, focussing on the applicant's skills. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (ii) | The day after these tests, you will be invited to an interview with the selection board (held in your second language), see A.II.3(b) to enable the board to assess your:—
specialised knowledge in the field, —
professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, —
knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, —
knowledge of languages (your main language). | — | specialised knowledge in the field, | — | professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, | — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | — | knowledge of languages (your main language). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | specialised knowledge in the field, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | professional experience, ability to organise and coordinate the work of a team of auditors, adaptability, negotiating skills, decision-making ability and general ability to perform management duties, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | knowledge on the European Union, its institutions and its policies, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| — | knowledge of languages (your main language). | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

This test will be marked out of 100 (pass-mark: 60).

4.   Date for the tests

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

The date of the pre-selection tests/written test, and the time allowed for them, will be scheduled by EPSO and cannot be changed at a candidate's request. These details will be notified when you receive your invitation to the tests (via your EPSO profile).

5.   Reserve list

At the end of the competition, the selection board will draw up reserve lists by competition, divided into merit groups (no more than four) and sorted in alphabetical order in each, of the candidates( 4 ) (see section A, number of successful candidates) who have obtained both the pass-mark and one of the highest marks for the written test (c) and the oral test (d) combined.

The reserve list, together with its expiry date, will be published( 5 ) in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the EPSO website( 6 ).

C.   HOW TO APPLY

Please refer also to the Guide for Applicants 1, which can be found on the EPSO website 5. It contains detailed instructions to help you submit your application correctly.

1.   Creating an EPSO profile/online inscription

Before registering, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria (see section A, particularly concerning the types of qualification and, where necessary the professional experience required).

If you want to apply, you must do so via the Internet by going to the EPSO website ( 6 ) and following the instructions there on the various stages of the procedure.

It is your responsibility to complete your online inscription in time
( 7 ). 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 inscription being terminated before you have completed it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process and once the deadline has passed, you will not be able to do so.

On completion of your online inscription, you will receive on screen a number which you must note, this will be your reference number for 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 inscription has not been registered!

Please note that you must have an e‐mail address. This will be used to identify you. The information you must enter includes the languages you choose (see A.II.3), and the details of your qualifications (title, name of issuing establishment and date obtained) and, where required, details of your professional experience.

Once registered, you must use the website ( 6 ) (click on ‘Ongoing competitions’) to follow the progress of the competition.

If you have a disability that prevents you from registering online, you may request, preferably by fax, a paper version of the form(8) , which you should fill in, sign and return by registered mail, postmarked no later than the closing date for registration. All subsequent communication between EPSO and you will be by post.

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 inscription is 7 July 2005. Online registration will not be possible after 12.00 noon Brussels time on that day.

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

2.   Pre-selection tests/written test

The candidates invited to the pre-selection tests/written test will be those who are found to meet the general terms and conditions (see A.II.4) after EPSO has carried out a preliminary eligibility check based on the information given in the registration forms, and who have confirmed their inscription in time.

3.   Invitations

Information about the invitation to the pre-selection tests/written test and the invitation to the oral test will be available only on the EPSO website( 6 ). You can access it using the password you specify when making your online inscription. You are responsible for updating any change, via your EPSO profile, in your postal or e‐mail address.

You are responsible for keeping track of the progress of the competition, i.e. ensuring that for each stage you can, by using your password, access the information relevant to yourself. If you find that you cannot do this, it is your responsibility to notify EPSO immediately by e-mail( 9 ).

As far as possible you will be asked to sit the pre-selection and written tests in the city you choose when confirming your inscription. For organisational reasons you will not be able to switch to another venue unless you can prove that you have changed residence and have informed EPSO of this no later than three weeks before the planned date of the pre‐selection/written tests.

Oral tests will normally be held in Brussels or Luxembourg

4.   Full application

The candidates as referred to in section B.2 will be asked to print and complete the full application form which they will find in their EPSO profile on the website( 6 ). It must be sent in by the closing date( 10 ).

Documents to enclose

You must give details in your application form of your qualifications and the country of which you are a citizen. You must enclose with it photocopies of the following documents:

| — | a document proving your citizenship (e.g. your passport, ...), |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------ |

| — | the certificates for your qualifications, together with a translation of them in English, French or German if necessary (you may do the translation yourself), |
| - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| — | evidence of your professional experience (where necessary) (together with a translation in English, French or German if necessary) clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates and the exact nature of the duties it entailed, (you may do the translation yourself); further details concerning the presentation of your professional experience will be sent to you via your EPSO profile, |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| — | on a separate sheet of paper, a numbered list of these supporting documents. |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

You should send only unauthenticated photocopies of these documents.

You must fill in the application form in full, i.e. you may not refer to any previous application forms submitted or 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(10) 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/AD/23/05 or EPSO/AD/24/05 |
| B-1049 Brussels |

Scrutiny of applications

The selection board will examine the files of the candidates who have obtained both the pass mark and one of the highest marks in the pre-selection tests to determine whether they meet the conditions laid down in A.II.1, 2 and 3 of this notice. The selection board will then mark the written test (c) of the candidates who meet all the conditions for admission set out in A.II. and will invite the candidates who obtain both the highest marks and the pass mark in the written test (see B.2) to the oral test.

Should the selection board establish that you do not meet all the conditions for the competition for which you have applied but do meet the conditions for the other competition, you may be considered as having applied for that competition. Your participation in the following test of the competition for which you meet the admission criteria will be regarded as acceptance of the selection board's decision.

You will automatically be disqualified if:

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

| — | you have not completed and/or signed the application form (original signature only), |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |

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

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

NB: if you pass the pre-selection tests but fail to return the full application form completed, signed and accompanied by the requisite supporting documents by the specified deadline( 10 ), you will not be admitted to the next stage of the competition.

5.   Reserve lists

The names of the successful candidates (see B.5) will be included in the reserve lists.

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

7.   To facilitate the administration of the competition, in all correspondence YOU SHOULD GIVE YOUR FULL NAME AS IN YOUR APPLICATION, THE COMPETITION NUMBER, THE MAIN LANGUAGE YOU HAVE CHOSEN, TOGETHER WITH THE REFERENCE NUMBER YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOU APPLY ONLINE.

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( 6 ) approximately a fortnight before the pre-selection tests/written test.

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.

Your sole contact for all information on the competition throughout the whole process will be EPSO.

3.   Indicative timetable

Depending on the total number of candidates, the competition will take approximately nine months from start to finish, beginning on the date on which your electronic inscription is confirmed.

Full details will be available on the EPSO website( 6 ).

4.   Candidates' requests for information regarding their applications

The candidates' right to have access to information concerning their applications within the context of selection procedures is recognised under the conditions indicated hereafter. The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) may provide a candidate, on his/her request, with extra information concerning the candidate's participation in an open competition. The requests for information should be addressed in writing to EPSO within one month following notification of the results obtained in the competition. EPSO will reply within one month following receipt of the request. All requests will be dealt with whilst respecting the secret nature of the proceedings of the Selection Boards as foreseen by the Staff Regulations (Annex III, Article 6) and in accordance with existing rules surrounding data protection in the treatment of private information on individuals. Examples of such answers to requests are laid out in the ‘Guide to Applicants’ at point III.2.

5.   Requests for applications to be reconsidered — Appeal procedures — Complaints to the European Ombudsman

See Annex.

6.   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, in particular your qualifications, 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.

7.   Pensions

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, |
| - | -------------------------------------------- |

| — | 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. |
| - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

8.   Grade

This reserve pool of administrators is intended for grades A*5 (junior auditors) and A*9 (senior audit officers).

9.   Remuneration

Basic monthly salary as at 1 January 2005:

grade A*5, first step: EUR 3 837,37

grade A*9, first step: EUR 6 288,58.

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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.

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

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

( 4 )  Since the appointing authority has asked the selection board to select only this number of candidates, the board is unable to exceed this limit. However, candidates with the same marks qualifying them for the last place will all be admitted to the next stage of the competition.

( 5 )  If successful, you may explicitly request that your name not be published.

( 6 )  http://europa.eu.int/epso.

( 7 )  No later than 12.00 noon, Brussels time, on 7 July 2005.

( 8 )  Write to EPSO — Info-recruitment — CORT 80 0/48 — B-1049 Brussels — Fax (32-2) 295 74 88.

( 9 )  E‐mail addresses: epso-AD-23-05-en@cec.eu.int or epso-AD-24-05-en@cec.eu.int

( 10 )  The closing date will be indicated in good time in your EPSO profile.

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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 make one of the following: —
Requests for application to be reconsidered
Within 20 days of the letter informing you of the decision being posted online, send a letter stating your case to:
European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) Mail service CORT 80 Open competition EPSO/AD/23/05 or EPSO/AD/24/05 B-1049 Brussels EPSO will forward your request to the Chair of the selection board where it comes within the board's remit. You will be sent a reply as soon as possible. —
Appeals
—
You can bring a case before:The Court of First Instance of the European Communities Boulevard Konrad Adenauer L-2925 Luxembourg pursuant to 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 (EPSO) Mail service CORT 80 Open competition EPSO/AD/23/05 or EPSO/AD/24/05 B-1049 Brussels The deadlines for initiating these two types of procedure (see Staff Regulations as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 723/2004 of 22 March 2004, published in Official Journal of the European Union
L  124 of 27 April 2004— 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. —
Complaints to the European Ombudsman
You can, like all citizens of the European Union, make a complaint to the
European Ombudsman 1 avenue du Président Robert Schuman — BP 403 F-67001 Strasbourg Cedex pursuant to Article 195(1) of the EC Treaty 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 May 1994.
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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