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The case concerned how the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) assessed the eligibility of a candidate in a selection procedure for French-language lawyer-linguists. EPSO considered that the complainant was not eligible because he did not have the required diplomas. The complainant contested EPSO’s decision, claiming that he did have the required diplomas.

In the course of the inquiry, the Ombudsman found issues with the decision of the selection board to consider the complainant ineligible. She proposed that EPSO ask the selection board to reconsider its position on the eligibility of the complainant for the selection procedure. EPSO agreed to review the candidate’s eligibility and asked the complainant for additional documents. The complainant failed to respond to EPSO’s request. On this basis, EPSO rejected the solution proposal, as it considered that, without these additional documents, it could not review the candidate’s eligibility.

Against this background, the Ombudsman took the view that no further inquiries are justified in this case. She nevertheless made a suggestion to EPSO that, in future selection procedures, selection boards ensure that decisions on the eligibility of candidates are based on a clear understanding of the information provided by candidates in their applications. In case of doubt as to the eligibility of a candidate, the selection board should request additional information from the candidate or seek clarifications from national authorities or other third parties.

The complainant is a freelance interpreter who raised concerns about how the European Parliament complied with its contractual obligations in relation to the provision of remote interpretation services to the European Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ombudsman took the view that the Parliament had provided reasonable explanations for its position and closed the inquiry with a finding of no maladministration.

The case concerned the European Personnel Selection Office’s decision not to admit the complainant to a selection procedure for secretaries due to insufficient professional experience in the field of the competition.

The Ombudsman found that the selection board had examined the information provided in the complainant’s application and assessed it against the eligibility criteria. The Ombudsman did not identify a manifest error in how the selection board assessed the application, and closed the inquiry with a finding of no maladministration.

The case concerned how the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) assessed the professional experience of a candidate in a selection procedure for recruiting EU staff in the field of sustainable agriculture and rural development.

The Ombudsman found nothing to suggest a manifest error in how the selection board assessed the complainant’s professional experience and, therefore, closed the inquiry with a finding of no maladministration.

The complainant applied for a vacancy at the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). When he later asked the ERA for an update on the status of his application, the ERA replied that it had not received it. The complainant thus turned to the Ombudsman.

In the context of the Ombudsman’s inquiry, the ERA explained that, due to a technical error with its email system, it had not received the complainant’s application. However, it asked the selection committee to evaluate the application. The ERA also explained the measures it intends to take to prevent similar incidents in future. The Ombudsman concluded that no further inquiries were justified.

The case concerned the contractual conditions of ‘locally recruited teachers’ (LRTs) in the European Schools. While the European Schools are not an EU institution, the European Commission has an important role in them, as it has a seat on the Board of Governors and is the main contributor to the Schools’ budget.

The Ombudsman inquired into the Commission’s role and actions taken in relation to the contractual situation of LRTs. She noted that most LRTs’ contracts lack stability, as they can be terminated where teachers from the national systems of Member States are seconded to a European School, regardless of the time they have been working for the European Schools.

The Ombudsman considered that, even if the European Schools are only bound by their own rules, the Commission should use its role to ensure, within the limits of its power, that LRTs’ contractual and working conditions are fully in line with EU employment laws and principles.

The Commission has a long term solution for the Schools which it is focused, first and foremost, on implementing. The Ombudsman pointed out that it is of the greatest importance that the Commission closely monitors the implementation of the solution with a view to limiting, as much as possible, the negative impact on LRTs. The Ombudsman trusts that the Commission will take whatever action is needed to address any negative impact and, then, if needed will consider further improvements to the LRTs’ working conditions.

In light of this, the Ombudsman considered that no further inquiries are justified at this stage and closed the case.