*Note that the original article below predates the cancellation of EPSO/AST/154/22 [1]). We have not yet agreed on collective or Common Front [2] action on the cancellation itself [3].*
Original article:
EPSO is in a process of transformation. The Court of Justice has just confirmed the unlawfulness of restricting the choice of the second language to English, French or German (16.02.2023 [4])[1]. It has just started applying an updated competency framework [5] [2]. It is about to make its Assessment Centres and oral tests [6] obsolete as part of a wider change to the whole recruitment process [7] [3] and, the most adrenaline-inducing change [8] of all (so far), it introduced online testing (‘remotely proctored computer-based tests [9]‘ (CBT)) in July 2021. This move was initially due to the pandemic, but is here to stay. There are several unaddressed technical and ethical issues (intrusiveness?) related to this this new format [4] which are more than standard teething issues.
If anything goes wrong with your remote test please contact EPSO as quickly as you can. Follow the COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES section in the notice of your specific competition (e.g. here it is in annex III [10]). The deadlines are very tight, please don’t wait! If, after this, you still have no success please get in touch with us [11].
Criticism
There is a great deal of criticism of the online testing and its frustrations. Some of the criticism relates to unaddressed technical issues (e.g. test pausing for hours in the middle). Some of it relates to odd reasons for exclusion, such as a child entering the room[5]. Some criticism relates to the ethical issues of having to show the full room (including under the table), having to show parts of your body and having to send copies of ID cards to a United-States based company (Prometric [12]) [4]. We are participating in these debates and collecting examples, feel free to send us yours! [13]
There are also some equal opportunities issues raised which are interesting, but difficult to remove.
- Those with better IT skills and equipment have an advantage.
This is likely to be true, not just here, but in many aspects of life. The new EPSO updated competency framework [5] specifically includes digital and data literacy) (competence 3). Is the remote CBT an unintentional(?) first test of how well candidates would fit in a ‘future-proof’ Commission [14]?
- There are costs associated with having a computer that meets the specifications to do the test.
Would hybrid CBT testing be more accommodating, or might it also raise differences between candidates, particularly in the case of technical difficulties? While costs are always a barrier to recruitment in any field and they impact diversity and inclusion, we have not yet seen the pre-July 2021 CBT participation costs described as an equal opportunities issue. This first part of the concours was never reimbursable and a 900km round trip[6] to the nearest test centre required candidates to have the time, money and mobility necessary. Have we simply exchanged one type of entry barrier for another?
As always, feel free to contact [15] us if you have questions: we’re here for you!
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[1] Check out our article on colleagues trying to update their sysper profile language order [16].
[2] The little-known word intrapreneurship [17] is listed there as number 8. Try dropping that word into casual conversations today, everyone will ‘correct’ you to entrepreneurship [18], but stand your ground!
[3] We find it curious that, while the Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) has the stated intention [19] of addressing perceived shortcomings of EPSO recruitment, EPSO has chosen not to take the JPP as a model for its changes, suggesting that it does not endorse the path chosen by the JPP.
‘The main objectives of the [JPP] pilot programme … are: (1) diversifying sources for recruiting highly talented staff (II) contributing to a balanced mix of staff in terms of gender, age, skills and nationalities (III) equipping participants with a better understanding of the Commission and with the necessary knowledge and skills needed by the Institution (IV) developing a European and Commission spirit among participants and (V) modernising recruitment at the Commission.’ (p.3 JPP Evaluation Report [20])
Note that EPSO is not the organiser for internal competitions [21]. So the confirmation 16.02.2023 [4] of the unlawfulness of the restriction of the second language to English, French or German affects EPSO only and not internal competitions.
[4] The Central Staff Committee [22] has sent notes on this topic.
| 15/12/2022 (2022)8710389 |
Serious problems related to competition EPSO/AST/154/22 [23] + Annex [24] | HR [25] 17/01/2023 |
[5] Politico [26] provides additional odd exclusion examples.
[6] e.g. Oviedo, Spain, closest EPSO test centre was ‘Madrid’ [27], some 450km distant, requiring at least a day of annual leave in addition to non-reimbursable transport costs. But distance is sometimes an afterthought: Seville and Ispra share a ‘local’ staff committee while being some 2000km distant from one another.