Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92001E1489

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/01 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission. Recruitment of OHIM staff.** 
  
*Official Journal 364 E , 20/12/2001 P. 0126 - 0127*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/01

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Subject: Recruitment of OHIM staff

Given reports that:

- the OHIM agency (Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market), which is responsible for trademarks, designs and models and is based in Alicante, does not use competitions to recruit new staff;

- when new vacancy notices are published, candidates who submit applications that fulfil the stated requirements are not invited to an interview;

- in the last vacancy notice for category A staff (reference 00/24/A/CHR, closing date for submitting applications was 15 October 2000), no document other than a curriculum vitae was requested;

- in April 2001 an applicant was rejected without receiving any explanation;

How does the Commission propose to ensure the adoption of a procedure which would lend transparency to staff selection criteria and provide appropriate justification for the process of exclusion?

Does the Commission intend to publish the original criteria for recruitment?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) applies the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities (CEOS). However, the OHIM enjoys a large degree of administrative autonomy including in its recruitment policy.

According to the instrument establishing the agency - the Community Trade Mark Regulation - the Commission's role is limited to checking the legality of the decisions of the President and the Budget Committee, for which no appeal is provided. Issues concerning recruitment of staff are subject to appeal to the court of First Instance. The Commission does not hold voting rights in the Administrative Board of the OHIM.

Without further detailed information the Commission is not in a position to comment on the reports mentioned by the Honourable Member. However, the OHIM has informed the Commission that, on the particular occasion referred to in the question, the Office erroneously sent out letters of rejection to unsuccessful candidates without including the usual justification for rejection which was that other, more suitable, candidates had been selected from among the applications received.

In the past, the OHIM has chosen to use internal competitions for recruitment of officials. The Commission understands, however, that procedures for external competitions are currently under consideration.

Additional information on the selection procedures of the OHIM is best obtained directly from the Agency.

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