Corrigendum to notice of open competitions EPSO/AD/178-179/10 ( OJ C 110 A, 29.4.2010 )
Date: 2013-03-21
Institutions: European Personnel Selection Office
Subjects: EPSO, administrator, competition (EU)








CA2013082EN.01000601.xml










21.3.2013   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CA 82/6





Corrigendum to notice of open competitions EPSO/AD/178-179/10

(
Official Journal of the European Union C 110 A of 29 April 2010
)

(2013/C 82 A/02)
On page 1:
for:


‘Before applying, you should read carefully the guide published in Official Journal C 57 A of 9 March 2010 and on the EPSO website.




…


CONTENTS






I.



GENERAL BACKGROUND











II.



DUTIES











III.



ELIGIBILITY











IV.



ADMISSION TESTS











V.



ADMISSION TO THE COMPETITION AND INVITATION TO THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE











VI.



OPEN COMPETITION











VII.



RESERVE LISTS











VIII.



HOW TO APPLY’,






read:


‘Before applying, you should carefully read the guide published in Official Journal C 270 A of 7 September 2012 and on the EPSO website; however, points 6.3 and 6.4 are replaced by the text in Section IX “Additional information” of this competition notice.




…


CONTENTS






I.



GENERAL BACKGROUND











II.



DUTIES











III.



ELIGIBILITY











IV.



ADMISSION TESTS











V.



ADMISSION TO THE COMPETITION AND INVITATION TO THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE











VI.



OPEN COMPETITION











VII.



RESERVE LISTS











VIII.



HOW TO APPLY











IX.



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION’;






on page 3, Section III, point 2.2:
for:







‘2.2



Knowledge of languages





 


…










(a)


Language 1







Main language:

A thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union.




and


 










(b)


Language 2







Second language (must be different from language 1):

A satisfactory knowledge of English, French or German.’





read:







‘2.2



Knowledge of languages





 


…










(a)


Language 1







Main language:

A thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union.




and


 










(b)


Language 2







Second language (must be different from language 1):

A satisfactory knowledge of English, French or German.


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




Candidates are therefore informed that the second language options in these competitions have been defined in line with the interests of the service, which require new recruits to be immediately operational and capable of communicating effectively in their daily work. Otherwise the efficient functioning of the institutions could be severely impaired.




It has long been the practice to use mainly English, French and German for internal communication in the EU institutions, and these are also the languages most often needed when communicating with the outside world and dealing with cases. Moreover, where candidates for competitions are free to choose their second language, these three are by far the most common choices. This confirms what is currently expected of candidates for European Union posts in terms of their level of education and professional skills, namely that they have a command of at least one of these languages. Consequently, in balancing the interests and needs of the service and the abilities of candidates, and given the particular fields of these competitions, it is legitimate to organise tests in the three languages so as to ensure that all candidates are able to work in at least one of them, whatever their first official language.




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







on page 3, Section IV, before the introductory paragraph, add:

‘The admission tests are organised by EPSO and you will take them on a computer. The selection board decides on the difficulty of the tests and approves their subject matter on the basis of proposals made by EPSO.’;

on page 4, Section V, point 2, last paragraph:
for:

‘The number of candidates admitted to the assessment centre will be approximately three times the number of successful candidates indicated in the competition notice and will be published on EPSO's website (www.eu-careers.eu).’,

read:

‘The number of candidates admitted to the assessment centre will be approximately three times the number of successful candidates that is indicated in the competition notice and will be published on EPSO's website (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/eu-careers.info/).’;

on page 5, Section VI, point 2:
for:













‘2.


Assessment centre






…
These competencies are tested by means of:






(d)


a case study in the chosen field,










(e)


group exercises,










(f)


a structured interview.’









read:













‘2.


Assessment centre






…
These competencies are tested by means of:






(d)


a case study in the chosen field (1)











(e)


group exercises,










(f)


a structured interview.









on page 6, Section VIII, point 2:
for:













‘2.


Submission of application files






If you are one of the candidates invited to the assessment centre, you will have to submit, if asked at a later stage, a full application file (signed online application form and supporting documents).

Closing date: You will be informed of the closing date via your EPSO account.

Procedure: See point 2.2 of the guide to open competitions.’





read:













‘2.


Submission of application files







If you are one of the candidates invited to the assessment centre, you will have to bring with you your full application file (signed online application form and supporting documents) when you come to the assessment centre (2).

Procedure: see point 6.1 of the guide to open competitions.





on page 6, add:

‘IX.   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Without prejudice to the appeals procedures provided for by Articles 90 and 91 of the Staff Regulations, you can request a review if:






—


EPSO has failed to observe the provisions governing the competition procedure,










—


the selection board has failed to abide by the provisions governing its proceedings.




Note that selection boards enjoy wide powers of discretion in assessing whether and to what extent your answers are correct or incorrect.
EPSO will forward your request to the chair of the selection board if it comes within the board's remit, and you will be sent a reply as swiftly as possible.
Submit your request, stating the grounds on which it is based, within 10 calendar days from the date when the letter from EPSO is sent to you online:






—


either using the contact form published on the EPSO website,










—


or by fax to +32 22979611.





Please quote in the subject line of your letter:







—


the competition number,










—


your application number,










—


one of the following: “Request for review” or “demande de réexamen” or “Antrag auf Überprüfung” (your choice),










—


the stage of the competition procedure concerned (for example, the admission tests, non-admission, the assessment centre); indicate the stage concerned in English, French or German only.’.







(1)  The content is validated by the selection board.’;

(2)  You will be notified in good time via your EPSO account of the date when you have to attend the assessment centre.’;