Refusal to grant candidates access to the questions/answers in multiple choice computer based tests

Nyelvek :  bg.es.cs.da.de.et.el.en.fr.ga.it.lv.lt.hu.mt.nl.pl.pt.ro.sk.sl.fi.sv
  • Ügy :  OI/4/2007/(ID)MHZ
    Vizsgálat megindítása 2007.11.20. - Határozat 2009.03.09.
  • Érintett intézmény(ek) :  Európai Személyzeti Felvételi Hivatal
  • Jogterület(ek) :  Általános, pénzügyi és intézményi ügyek
  • Az állítólagos hivatali visszásság típusa – i. a következők megsértése, illetve ii. a következőkkel kapcsolatos kötelességszegés :  Diszkrimináció tilalama [HHMEK 5. cikke],Információkérés [HHMEK 22. cikke]
  • Panasz tárgya(i) :  Versenyvizsgák és felvételi eljárások (gyakornokkal együtt)

Summary of decision on own-initiative inquiry OI/4/2007/(ID)MHZ concerning the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

The Ombudsman received a series of complaints concerning EPSO's refusal to grant candidates access to the questions/answers in multiple choice computer based tests (CBT) they had taken. In case 370/2007/MHZ, he issued a critical remark stating that "EPSO has failed adequately to justify its refusal to give the complainant access to the CBT questions/answers. This is an instance of maladministration." Subsequently, he opened the present own-initiative inquiry in order to give EPSO an opportunity to better explain its position.

The Ombudsman did not agree with EPSO's arguments relating to the administrative and financial difficulties likely to arise if it gave candidates such access. He stated that the Community principle of transparency, as well as the progress which the institutions have made in this respect, could not be overridden by such difficulties. In addition, he found that the current CBT information EPSO gives to candidates does not allow them to check whether their answers were correctly assessed.

EPSO's remaining arguments were based on Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to documents and the relevant case-law of the Community courts relating to the secrecy of selection board proceedings and the principle of equal treatment of candidates. In response, the Ombudsman referred to cases pending before the European Courts, which challenge EPSO's refusal to give access to CBT questions/answers. For this reason, he felt that continuing the present own-initiative inquiry was not justified and he therefore closed it. While awaiting the respective decisions of the European courts in relation to the disclosure of the CBT questions, the Ombudsman recalled his above critical remark in case 370/2007/MHZ.