Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) ‘select their accredited parliamentary assistants (or ‘APAs’). ….

Parliament’s administration provides the contractual framework but is not involved in the selection of APAs.

There are 19 APA grades and two ‘function groups’ (I and II)

• APAs recruited in function group I mainly perform administrative support and secretarial duties (grades 1 to 13);
• APAs recruited in function group II mainly perform drafting and advisory duties (grades 7 to 19).

APAs work directly for MEPs in their Offices in Brussels and Strasbourg, supporting their parliamentary and political work and providing administrative support.’ European Parliament