Der Europäische Bürgerbeauftragte

Following an inquiry by the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has made its selection procedures for EU staff more transparent. The Ombudsman received a significant number of complaints from applicants for EU jobs about unjustified secrecy in evaluation criteria and selection procedures.

After his investigation, the Ombudsman urged EPSO to disclose evaluation criteria and to provide a breakdown of individual marks. EPSO accepted the Ombudsman's recommendations and announced new measures to allow for more openness in EU staff selection. These measures are being progressively implemented and will become fully effective in 2010 when EPSO introduces a new system for selection procedures.

Mr Diamandouros said: "I am delighted with EPSO's response to my recommendations. The new measures will enhance the public's trust in the professionalism of EU recruitment. It also constitutes an important change in administrative culture towards more transparency."

Background

Every year, thousands of individuals from EU Member States apply for jobs in the EU civil service. EPSO is responsible for organising the selection procedures, including written and oral tests.

In recent years, the Ombudsman has received a significant number of complaints from job applicants. These mainly concerned unjustified secrecy in evaluation criteria and non-transparent selection procedures, because the breakdown of the overall mark was not disclosed.

During his investigation into the complaints, the Ombudsman found that EPSO's practices were not in line with the EU's current commitment to transparency and good administration. In July 2008, he called on EPSO to disclose evaluation criteria as well as the breakdown of individual marks.

In its reply, EPSO emphasised that openness in selection procedures is extremely important. It accepted the Ombudsman's recommendations and announced the use of new evaluation sheets, which will be available to applicants as from 2010. According to EPSO, the evaluation criteria for oral tests will also become more transparent.

The Ombudsman welcomed EPSO's response and expressed his full trust in the successful implementation of the new measures.

To read the full decision, please go to: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/decision.faces/en/3706/html.bookmark