Own-initiative inquiry into openness in EU recruitment

Available languages: bg.es.cs.da.de.et.el.en.fr.ga.it.lv.lt.hu.mt.nl.pl.pt.ro.sk.sl.fi.sv
  • Case: OI/5/2005/PB
    Opened on 10 Oct 2005 - Draft recommendation on 22 Jul 2008, 22 Jul 2008 - Decision on 16 Dec 2008
  • Institution(s) concerned: European Personnel Selection Office
  • Field(s) of law: General, financial and institutional matters
  • Types of maladministration alleged – (i) breach of, or (ii) breach of duties relating to: Requests for public access to documents [Article 23 ECGAB]
  • Subject matter(s): Competition and selection procedures (including trainees)

Summary of decision on own-initiative inquiry OI/5/2005/PB concerning the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

In 2005, the European Ombudsman opened his second own-initiative inquiry on the issue of transparency in EU recruitment.

The first such inquiry was undertaken in 1997-1999 and led to a number of concrete improvements. In that context, the Commission acknowledged that for many applicants, the recruitment procedures are the first and only direct contact they have with the EU administration, and that this contact should therefore be positive. Parliament subsequently voiced a similar concern, emphasising that "the principle of transparency must apply throughout the selection procedure".

However, when EPSO began its work in 2003, the Ombudsman continued to receive complaints on two related issues. First, evaluation criteria formulated by selection boards for the purpose of assessing candidates remain secret. Second, the manner by which selection boards arrive at a final mark for candidates' examinations was not clear. Again, the reason for this was secrecy, since the marks for the separate parts of the tests were not disclosed.

The Ombudsman took the view that the above practices appeared to be inconsistent with the European Union's current commitment to transparency and good administration. He therefore opened the present own-initiative inquiry and made the following draft recommendation in July 2008:

"EPSO should disclose to candidates, at their request, the evaluation criteria, if any, adopted by the selection boards for written or oral tests, and should furthermore disclose to candidates, at their request, the detailed breakdown of marks, if any, awarded to them for their performance."

EPSO informed the Ombudsman of new measures that it had adopted in response to his draft recommendation. It emphasised that it considers openness in EU recruitment to be extremely important, and pointed out that, in the context of a major reform of the EU recruitment procedure ('EPSO Development Programme'), the EPSO Management Board has approved a number of its proposed changes relevant to this issue.

The Ombudsman concluded that the measures taken by EPSO were appropriate for the implementation of his draft recommendation. In welcoming EPSO's response, he also noted that the proposed measures would considerably contribute to enhancing the applicants' and the public's trust in the professionalism and objectivity of EU recruitment.

The main correspondence between the Ombudsman and EPSO, leading up to the Ombudsman's decision, is available on the Ombudsman's website:

http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/initiatives/en/default.htm