# CA2010196EN.01000101.xml

| 20.7.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CA 196/1 |
| --------- | -- | -------------------------------------- | -------- |

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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS

EPSO/AD/188/10 (AD 5) and EPSO/AD/189/10 (AD 7)

(2010/C 196 A/01)

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

EPSO/AD/188/10 (grade AD 5) and EPSO/AD/189/10 (grade AD 7)

| — | INTERPRETERS for BULGARIAN (BG) |
| - | ------------------------------- |

| — | ENGLISH-LANGUAGE (EN) INTERPRETERS |
| - | ---------------------------------- |

| — | DUTCH-LANGUAGE (NL) INTERPRETERS |
| - | -------------------------------- |

| — | INTERPRETERS for ROMANIAN (RO) |
| - | ------------------------------ |

| — | INTERPRETERS for SLOVENIAN (SL) |
| - | ------------------------------- |

The purpose of these competitions is to draw up reserve lists from which to fill vacant posts in the institutions of the European Union, in particular Parliament, the Commission and the Court of Justice.

Before applying, you should read carefully the guide published in Official Journal C 184 A of 8 July 2010 and on the EPSO website.

This guide is an integral part of the competition notice and will help you to understand the rules governing the procedure and how to apply.

CONTENTS

| I. | GENERAL BACKGROUND |
| -- | ------------------ |

| II. | DUTIES |
| --- | ------ |

| III. | ELIGIBILITY |
| ---- | ----------- |

| IV. | ADMISSION TESTS |
| --- | --------------- |

| V. | ASSESSMENT CENTRE |
| -- | ----------------- |

| VI. | RESERVE LISTS |
| --- | ------------- |

| VII. | HOW TO APPLY |
| ---- | ------------ |

I.   GENERAL BACKGROUND

| 1.
Number of successful candidates | 1. | Number of successful candidates | EPSO/AD/188/10 (grade AD 5) — EPSO/AD/189/10 (grade AD 7) |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | Number of successful candidates | | |
| 49 | 49 | | |
| 2.
Remarks | 2. | Remarks | Each competition includes several languages and several options.
You may apply for only one competition, one language and one option. You must make your choice when you apply on-line and you will not be able to change it after your on-line application form has been confirmed and validated.
However, where a candidate does not have the required qualifications for the AD 7 competition but satisfies the eligibility requirements for the AD 5 competition, the selection board may, with the candidate's consent, reassign the application to the AD 5 competition.
Similarly, where a candidate admitted to the AD 7 competition fails the interpretation tests in one of the three languages, but fulfils the requirements for passing the AD 5 competition, the selection board may offer to enter that candidate's name on the reserve list for the latter. Such reassignment, in order of merit, will be possible only in so far as there are available places on the reserve list for that competition. |
| 2. | Remarks | | |

II.   DUTIES

The job of interpreter calls for exceptional adaptability (frequent meetings and irregular hours) and the ability to grasp varied and often complex issues, to react swiftly to changing circumstances and to communicate effectively. You must be able to work frequently under pressure, both independently and as part of a team, and to adjust to a multicultural working environment. You will be expected to upgrade your professional skills — including technology — throughout your career. You may be asked to expand your language combination to meet the needs of the service( 2 ).

The main duty of a conference interpreter is to ensure that the discussions held at various meetings are correctly interpreted into an official language of the European Union. This can entail either simultaneous or consecutive interpreting. Interpreters will be expected to study both the subject matter of meetings and terminology lists in advance.

Interpreters may also be required to evaluate the work of Auxiliary Conference Interpreters (freelancers) and to carry out administrative duties associated with interpreting.

Working as a conference interpreter can involve frequent travel, except in the case of interpreters at the Court of Justice, who work primarily in Luxembourg.

More information on the European Community's interpreting services can be found at:

http://europa.eu/interpretation/index_en.htm

III.   ELIGIBILITY

, you must fulfil all the following general and specific conditions:

| 1.
General conditions | 1. | General conditions |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | General conditions | |
| a)
You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union. b)
You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen. c)
You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service. d)
You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved. | a) | You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union. |
| a) | You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union. | |
| b) | You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen. | |
| c) | You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service. | |
| d) | You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved. | |
| 2.
Specific conditions Note: Experience as a court interpreter, liaison interpreter, company interpreter or interpreter for social or other public services will not be considered experience as a conference interpreter. | 2. | Specific conditions |
| 2. | Specific conditions | |
| 2.1 | Qualifications | |
| Either (a) | You must have successfully completed a full course of training as a conference interpreter equivalent to four years of studies at university level and obtained the relevant qualification. | |
| or (b) | You must have a level of education which corresponds to full university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma AND completed training as a conference interpreter attested by a certificate or other proof of success. | |
| or (c) | You must have a level of education which corresponds to full university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma AND one year's professional experience as a conference interpreter, evidenced by documents clearly indicating the number of days worked as a conference interpreter. | |
| 2.2 | Professional experience | |
| | Grade AD 5
No professional experience is required unless you are applying under III.2.1.(c), in which case the experience must have been gained since you obtained the first qualification required under that heading. | |
| | Grade AD 7
You must have at least four years' graduate-level professional experience gained since obtaining your first degree or diploma.
Such professional experience must include at least 100 days of conference interpreting since the date when the condition set out in III.2.1(a), (b) or (c) was fulfilled.
These four years must be additional to both the training as a conference interpreter evidenced by the relevant qualification and the one year of experience working as a conference interpreter required under III.2.1(b) or (c) above. | |
| 2.3 | Knowledge of languages | |
| The official languages of the European Union are: | | |
| BG (Bulgarian)
CS (Czech)
DA (Danish)
DE (German)
EL (Greek)
EN (English)
ES (Spanish)
ET (Estonian) | FI (Finnish)
FR (French)
GA (Irish)
HU (Hungarian)
IT (Italian)
LT (Lithuanian)
LV (Latvian)
MT (Maltese) | NL (Dutch)
PL (Polish)
PT (Portuguese)
RO (Romanian)
SK (Slovak)
SL (Slovenian)
SV (Swedish) |
| For recruitment to the Court of Justice, an understanding of written French is required.
Your knowledge of languages must be proven by supporting documents, which should be attached to your full application. If you have no such supporting documents, you should explain in detail, on a separate sheet, how you acquired such knowledge.
‘Language combination’ means the languages used by conference interpreters in their work. Working languages are either ‘active’ or ‘passive’ languages, and are defined below as ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ languages. | | |
| Active languages | Language ‘A’ or ‘A*’:
Your main language (mother tongue or an exact equivalent), of which you have a perfect command and into which you work from all your working languages, both simultaneously and consecutively.
Language ‘B’:
Although not your main language, a language of which you have a full command and into which you interpret from language A, either simultaneously or consecutively. | |
| Passive languages | Language ‘C’:
Language from which you interpret and which you understand fully. | |
| Note | Please note that your general competencies will be tested at the assessment centre in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE); the language chosen must be different from active language A or A*. | |
| 2.3.1 | Language combinations required for the following languages:
—
BULGARIAN (BG) —
ROMANIAN (RO) —
SLOVENIAN (SL) | — |
| — | BULGARIAN (BG) | |
| — | ROMANIAN (RO) | |
| — | SLOVENIAN (SL) | |
| | Grade AD 5 | |
| Option 1(a)
(A+CC) | Active A language: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian
Passive C languages:
—
C1: English, French or German and —
C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) | — |
| — | C1: English, French or German and | |
| — | C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) | |
| Option 2(a)
(A+B) | Active A language: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian
Active B language:
DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) | |
| | DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) | |
| Option 3(a)
(A*+CC) | Active A* language:
DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) Passive C languages:
—
C1: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian and —
C2: English, French or German (must be different from language A*) | |
| | DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) | |
| — | C1: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian and | |
| — | C2: English, French or German (must be different from language A*) | |
| | Grade AD 7 | |
| Option 1(b)
(A+CCC) | Active A language: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian
passive C languages:
—
C1: English, French orGerman and —
C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) and —
C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2) | — |
| — | C1: English, French orGerman and | |
| — | C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) and | |
| — | C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2) | |
| Option 2(b)
(A+B+C) | Active A language: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian
Active B language:
DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) Passive C language:
an EU language, which must be either DE (German), EN (English) or FR (French) unless one of these three languages is language B; the language chosen must be different from languages A and B | |
| | DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) | |
| | an EU language, which must be either DE (German), EN (English) or FR (French) unless one of these three languages is language B; the language chosen must be different from languages A and B | |
| Option 3(b)
(A*+CCC) | Active A* language:
DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) Passive C languages:
—
C1: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian and —
C2: English, French or German (must be different from language A*), and —
C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A*, C1 and C2) | |
| | DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) | |
| — | C1: Bulgarian, Romanian or Slovenian and | |
| — | C2: English, French or German (must be different from language A*), and | |
| — | C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A*, C1 and C2) | |
| 2.3.2 | Language combinations required for the following languages:
—
ENGLISH (EN) —
DUTCH (NL) | — |
| — | ENGLISH (EN) | |
| — | DUTCH (NL) | |
| | Grade AD 5 | |
| Option 1(c)
(A+CC) | Active A language: English or Dutch
Passive C languages:
—
C1: English, French or German (must be different from language A), and —
C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) | — |
| — | C1: English, French or German (must be different from language A), and | |
| — | C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) | |
| | Grade AD 7 | |
| Option 1(d)
(A+CCC) | Active A language: English or Dutch
Passive C languages:
—
C1: English, French or German (must be different from language A), and —
C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) and —
C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2) | — |
| — | C1: English, French or German (must be different from language A), and | |
| — | C2: an EU language (must be different from languages A and C1) and | |
| — | C3: an EU language (must be different from languages A, C1 and C2) | |
| Option 2(d)
(A+B+C) | Active A language: English or Dutch
Active B language:
DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) (must be different from language A) Passive C language:
an EU language, which must be either DE (German), EN (English) or FR (French) unless one of these three languages is language B; the language chosen must be different from languages A and B. | |
| | DE (German), EN (English), ES (Spanish), FR (French), IT (Italian), NL (Dutch) or PT (Portuguese) (must be different from language A) | |
| | an EU language, which must be either DE (German), EN (English) or FR (French) unless one of these three languages is language B; the language chosen must be different from languages A and B. | |

IV.   ADMISSION TESTS

| 1.
You will be invited to take the tests | 1. | You will be invited to take the tests | , you have declared that you fulfil the general and specific conditions listed in section III. |
| ----------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | You will be invited to take the tests | | |
| 2.
Nature and marking of tests | 2. | Nature and marking of tests | A series of tests comprising multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability as regards: |
| 2. | Nature and marking of tests | | |
| Test (a)
language | Verbal reasoning
Active A or A* | This test will be marked out of 20
Pass mark: 10 | |
| Test (b)
language | Numerical reasoning
Active A or A* | This test will be marked out of 10 | |
| Test (c)
language | Abstract reasoning
Active A or A* | This test will be marked out of 10 | |
| | Aggregate pass mark for tests (b) and (c): 8 | | |
| Test (d)
language | Verbal reasoning
Active B
(for options 2(a), 2(b) and 2(d))
Passive C1
(for the other options) | This test will be marked out of 10
Pass mark: 5 | |
| Test (e)
language | Verbal reasoning
Active B (second test)
(for option 2(a))
Passive C
(for options 2(b) and 2(d))
Passive C2
(for the other options) | This test will be marked out of 10
Pass mark: 5 | |

V.   ASSESSMENT CENTRE

| 1.
You will be invited to the assessment centre session | 1. | You will be invited to the assessment centre session | —
if you have obtained the pass mark in the admission tests and —
if, based on
the supporting documents attached to your application, you satisfy the general and specific conditions in section III and —
for the AD 5 competition only, you have obtained the pass mark in the intermediate interpreting test (see section V.2). | — | if you have obtained the pass mark in the admission tests and | — | if, based on
the supporting documents attached to your application, you satisfy the general and specific conditions in section III and | — | for the AD 5 competition only, you have obtained the pass mark in the intermediate interpreting test (see section V.2). |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 1. | You will be invited to the assessment centre session | | | | | | | | |
| — | if you have obtained the pass mark in the admission tests and | | | | | | | | |
| — | if, based on
the supporting documents attached to your application, you satisfy the general and specific conditions in section III and | | | | | | | | |
| — | for the AD 5 competition only, you have obtained the pass mark in the intermediate interpreting test (see section V.2). | | | | | | | | |
| 2.
Intermediate interpreting test (if applicable) Nature, marking and time allowed | 2. | Intermediate interpreting test (if applicable) | For the competition at AD 5 level, a intermediate interpreting test will be held.
This test consists in the simultaneous interpretation of a recorded speech. It may involve the use of audio-visual material at a test centre.
Language: candidates have the choice between a speech in English, French or German; the language chosen must be different from their active language.
Candidates who have applied for option 2a may also choose a speech in Dutch, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish.
Time allowed: approximately 12 minutes
This test will be marked out of 20
Pass mark: 10
The marks obtained in this test will not be added to those obtained in the assessment centre session. | | | | | | |
| 2. | Intermediate interpreting test (if applicable) | | | | | | | | |
| 3.
Assessment centre | 3. | Assessment centre | You will be assessed in Brussels, normally during a two-day session:
A.
on your specific competencies in the field of interpretation. These competencies will be tested by means of:
A consecutive interpretation test and a simultaneous interpretation test for each language chosen by the candidate. Consecutive tests will be based on a speech of a maximum of six minutes and simultaneous tests on a speech of a maximum of twelve minutes; and B.
On the following general competencies:
—
Analysis and problem solving —
Communicating —
Delivering quality and results —
Learning and development —
Prioritising and organising —
Resilience —
Working with others —
Leadership More information on these competencies can be found in point 1.2 of the guide to open competitions.
These competencies will be tested in English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE) (this language must be different from active language A or A*) by means of:
(a)
a structured interview (b)
a group exercise (c)
an oral presentation. | A. | on your specific competencies in the field of interpretation. These competencies will be tested by means of:
A consecutive interpretation test and a simultaneous interpretation test for each language chosen by the candidate. Consecutive tests will be based on a speech of a maximum of six minutes and simultaneous tests on a speech of a maximum of twelve minutes; and | | A consecutive interpretation test and a simultaneous interpretation test for each language chosen by the candidate. | | Consecutive tests will be based on a speech of a maximum of six minutes and simultaneous tests on a speech of a maximum of twelve minutes; |
| 3. | Assessment centre | | | | | | | | |
| A. | on your specific competencies in the field of interpretation. These competencies will be tested by means of:
A consecutive interpretation test and a simultaneous interpretation test for each language chosen by the candidate. Consecutive tests will be based on a speech of a maximum of six minutes and simultaneous tests on a speech of a maximum of twelve minutes; and | | A consecutive interpretation test and a simultaneous interpretation test for each language chosen by the candidate. | | Consecutive tests will be based on a speech of a maximum of six minutes and simultaneous tests on a speech of a maximum of twelve minutes; | | | | |
| | A consecutive interpretation test and a simultaneous interpretation test for each language chosen by the candidate. | | | | | | | | |
| | Consecutive tests will be based on a speech of a maximum of six minutes and simultaneous tests on a speech of a maximum of twelve minutes; | | | | | | | | |
| B. | On the following general competencies:
—
Analysis and problem solving —
Communicating —
Delivering quality and results —
Learning and development —
Prioritising and organising —
Resilience —
Working with others —
Leadership | — | Analysis and problem solving | — | Communicating | — | Delivering quality and results | — | Learning and development |
| — | Analysis and problem solving | | | | | | | | |
| — | Communicating | | | | | | | | |
| — | Delivering quality and results | | | | | | | | |
| — | Learning and development | | | | | | | | |
| — | Prioritising and organising | | | | | | | | |
| — | Resilience | | | | | | | | |
| — | Working with others | | | | | | | | |
| — | Leadership | | | | | | | | |
| (a) | a structured interview | | | | | | | | |
| (b) | a group exercise | | | | | | | | |
| (c) | an oral presentation. | | | | | | | | |
| 4.
Marking | 4. | Marking | A.
Specific competencies Grade AD 5: Each interpretation test will be marked out of 30
Pass mark for each test: 15
Grade AD 7: Each interpretation test will be marked out of 30
Pass mark for each test: 15
B.
General competencies Grade AD 5: These competencies combined will be marked out of 40
Pass mark: 20
Grade AD 7: These competencies combined will be marked out of 60( 3 )
Pass mark: 30 | A. | Specific competencies | B. | General competencies | | |
| 4. | Marking | | | | | | | | |
| A. | Specific competencies | | | | | | | | |
| B. | General competencies | | | | | | | | |

VI.   RESERVE LISTS

| 1.
Candidates placed on the reserve lists | 1. | Candidates placed on the reserve lists | The selection board will place you on the reserve list (see the number of successful candidates in section I.1)( 4 ) if you are among the candidates having obtained pass marks and the highest aggregate marks in the tests held at the assessment centre. |
| ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | Candidates placed on the reserve lists | | |
| 2.
Classification | 2. | Classification | Reserve lists will be drawn up by competition and names will be listed in alphabetical order. |
| 2. | Classification | | |

VII.   HOW TO APPLY

| 1.
On-line application | 1. | On-line application | You must apply on-line following the instructions on the EPSO website.
Deadline: 19 August 2010 at 12.00 (midday), Brussels time |
| ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1. | On-line application | | |
| 2.
Submitting a full file | 2. | Submitting a full file | In parallel with your on-line application, you must print out a copy of your validated on-line application form, sign it and send it together with the relevant supporting documents to the following address:
European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) C-25 Open competition EPSO/AD/188/10 or EPSO/AD/189/10 1049 Brussels Belgium Closing date: 19 August 2010
Details: See point 2 of the guide to open competitions. |
| 2. | Submitting a full file | | |
| European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) | | | |
| C-25 | | | |
| Open competition EPSO/AD/188/10 or EPSO/AD/189/10 | | | |
| 1049 Brussels | | | |
| Belgium | | | |

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( 1 )  Any reference in this notice to a person of the male sex should be deemed also to constitute a reference to a person of the female sex.

( 2 )  For successful candidates recruited by the European Parliament, this will be considered a duty of service.

( 3 )  In the event of a reassignment to the reserve list of the AD 5 competition (see section I.2), the marks attributed in the general competencies tests will be recalculated on the basis of 40 instead of 60.

( 4 )  Where a number of candidates tie for the last available place, they will all be placed on the reserve list.

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