EPSO

Internal & External Competitions – Contesting the Results : Conference

diversity & inclusion, EPSO, Equality, Events, Internal Competitions, Newsletter-2025-05-08, Training Print This Post

*Update 06.10.2025 the court case querying the legality of nationality-specific competitions is ongoing.*

*Update 26.08.2025 the updated time estimates are available under ‘planning’: please note some will take place SOONER than originally stated: don’t miss your chance!*

Original article: We have received an overwhelming number of complaints from colleagues about serious irregularities in recent internal and external competitions: technical failures of the testing platform, problems with the Single Candidate Portal, and questionable content in the knowledge tests based on non-official sources such as the Draghi Report.
Continue reading Internal & External Competitions – Contesting the Results : Conference →

EPSO: When wishful thinking meets reality 

diversity & inclusion, EPSO, Equality, Newsletter-2025-03-26, Vacancy Print This Post

What at first glance looks like a logical continuation and supplement to the new EPSO competition model is above all one thing: the admission of failure across the board. No matter how rosy the Director General of HR portrays the situation and the new recruitment model, EPSO is not living up to its claim to deliver a better and ultimately faster service and DG HR is now struggling to ensure at least a minimum level of quality in the new recruitment model.  Continue reading EPSO: When wishful thinking meets reality  →

Additional Training Offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Translators

EPSO, Events, Newsletter-2025-02-28, Training Print This Post

Now that the 2 work groups for AD5 Translators competitions already scheduled are fully booked, we are still receiving great training demand for the EPSO/AD/414-421/24 AD5 Translators competition in 8 languages. With only 1 week ahead until the first exam, we decided with our training consultant Yasemos to provide self-study exam packages for practising the different tests for those who couldnot join the work groups. Continue reading Additional Training Offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Translators →

EPSO’s Path to Recovery: A New Era for EU Competitions? 

EPSO, Newsletter-2025-02-12 Print This Post

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is undergoing its most radical transformation yet, introducing a new model aimed at better respond[ing]  to the evolving needs of the EU institutions and the realities of today’s labour market. Following sustained criticism (including from the Ombudsman and the European Data Protection Supervisor) – ranging from outdated IT infrastructure, lack of transparency to excessive delays in competitions – EPSO is implementing a revamped selection process known as EPSOlution. May 2025 will be the end of the five-year roadmap set out in the EPSO magement plan.  Continue reading EPSO’s Path to Recovery: A New Era for EU Competitions?  →

The Lifeboats Are Full: EPSO Hands Recruitment to the Old Guard 

EPSO, Newsletter-2025-02-12 Print This Post

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is undergoing its most radical transformation yet. The once-centralised recruitment body is officially splitting selection from recruitment, handing over the recruitment process to institutional HR services. This marks the full deployment of the new EPSO model, which removes EPSO’s role in recruitment and transfers hiring decisions to a new expert pool under the Commission’s control. Is this really the best way to address the recommendations of the European Court of Auditors, 2020, Special Report 23/2020: The European Personnel Selection Office: Time to adapt the selection process to changing recruitment needs? Continue reading The Lifeboats Are Full: EPSO Hands Recruitment to the Old Guard  →

ASTs: exploited and forgotten or given a future? 

Assistants, Certification, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Professional mobility Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. Participation in these competitions can be done in parallel to the certification: use all your options!* Continue reading ASTs: exploited and forgotten or given a future?  →

Time to put an end to the career blockage of AST/SC staff

Administrators, Assistants, Education, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Secretaries and clerks Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation.* Continue reading Time to put an end to the career blockage of AST/SC staff →

Are we testing competences or IT setup?

Certification, EEAS, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2024-03-15, Outside the Union Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. This can run in parallel to the certification: use all your options!* Continue reading Are we testing competences or IT setup? →

Echoes of unhappiness

Assistants, Certification, Contract Agents, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Local Agents, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Promotions, reclassification, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories, Temporary Agents, Training Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. Participation in these competitions can be done in parallel to the certification: use all your options!*

Continue reading Echoes of unhappiness →