*Update 10.09.2025, this EPSO competition is now closed to new applications.* Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training in English for EPSO/AD/423/25 – Lawyer-linguists/legal revisers (AD 7) competitions with a special discount rate for our members ONLY. Continue reading Training offer: EPSO/AD/423/25 – Lawyer-linguists/legal revisers (AD 7) competitions
EPSO
Internal & External Competitions – Contesting the Results : Conference
*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
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
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?
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
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?
*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
*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
EPSO’s Chronic Ineptitude – Ombudsman Exposes Systemic Failures
*Update 10.11.2024 the European Court of Auditors, Special report 24/2024: EU Civil service–A flexible employment framework, insufficiently used to improve workforce management, 2024 coincides with many of the issues we have pointed out below. Check it out!* Continue reading EPSO’s Chronic Ineptitude – Ombudsman Exposes Systemic Failures
Are we testing competences or IT setup?
*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?
