ESSENTIALS ABOUT INTERNAL COMPETITIONS
Hopes are high regarding the upcoming Internal Competitions and you probably feel excited about this opportunity approaching. Whether you are an Official, a Temporary Agent or a Contractual Agent, wait to read this article before opening the bottle of champagne!
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA?
The eligible population for this competition will be almost all staff categories (Officials + TA + CA[*]) over the period 2025-end 2027, though the originally indicated timeline has already shifted (so be prepared for the possibility of further slides) and the much-vaunted cross-function-group inclusivity remains to be seen.
I am not eligible to any of the competitions included in this planning. What opportunities do I have?
The current internal competitions’ planning is an indicative one, which can be adapted according to the emerging needs. Should there still be gaps not addressed by this current planning, they could be included in the next cycle of internal competitions. (Staff Matters>Talent management>Internal competitions>Internal Competitions Planning 2025-2027>FAQs) [bold not present in original]
The time slide is a mixed bag: if you have a fixed-term contract it’s possible your time in service will now not coincide with an internal competition, even though originally it might have done. On the other hand, some colleagues might now be able to participate where they could not have done before e.g. those who will now cross the threshold of minimum experience or time in service or those who have been promoted/reclassified meantime(the lists are published in November each year and salaries retrospectively in December).
Only 2 notices of competition have been published so far (31.10.2025) and those are for specialised competitions, so may not be particularly representative (e.g. AD7 financial risk management). We were disappointed to see that the option of including ASTs in these AD competitions was not used. Nevertheless this cross-function group inclusion is still promised for the generalist competitions, the first of which has now slid to the end of 2025 (QIV) from its original estimate of QII.
Please check out our articles on internal competitions and check out our list of resources.
[*] Unfortunately except FGI. Also note that there is a hard limit for Contract Agents, regardless of talent, experience or competition success. See also Q17a in out own CA FAQs.
According to the applicable rules (Article 82(7) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS)), the total number of contract agents who are appointed as officials following an internal competition is restricted to 5% of the total of appointments of officials per function group and per year. (Staff Matters>Talent management>Internal competitions>Internal Competitions Planning 2025-2027>FAQs)
