23.12.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 327/38

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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION EPSO/AST/10/05

(2005/C 327 A/04)

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising an open competition, based on tests, to constitute a reserve of

ASSISTANTS (1)(AST 3)

(Romanian language)

in the following field for the production of publications:

PROOFREADING

CONTENTS

A.	NATURE OF DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (REQUIRED PROFILE)

B.	SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

C.	HOW TO APPLY

D.	GENERAL INFORMATION

ANNEX:

Requests for review — Appeal procedures — Complaints to the European Ombudsman

A.   NATURE OF DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (REQUIRED PROFILE)

Competition EPSO/AST/10/05 is being organised to recruit assistants (AST 3) (Romanian language) in the field of proofreading for the production of publications.

The object of this competition is to draw up a reserve list of 25 candidates  (2) for the purpose of filling vacant posts, corresponding to the nature of duties, within the Office for Offical Publications of the European Communities and/or institutions of the European Union.

This competition is being organised in parallel with open competitions:

—	EPSO/AST/8/05 for Bulgarian-language proofreaders and

—	EPSO/AST/9/05 for Irish-language proofreaders.

Please note that the tests for the above competitions may be held simultaneously. You may therefore apply for one of these competitions only. You must choose which one when you fill in the registration form and cannot subsequently change it.

I.   DUTIES

Working under supervision, proofreaders will be expected to proofread Romanian-language manuscripts. This involves:

—	preparing manuscripts in terms of style and typography,

—	proofreading printer's proofs,

—	delivering the ‘pass for press’ order,

—	participating in the design of publications,

—	participating in the organisation of and follow-up to the production process in the field of publications.

II.   ELIGIBILITY (REQUIRED PROFILE)

You may apply for this competition if, on the closing date for registration (see section C), you meet the following requirements:

1.   Certificates and diplomas

You must have:

(i)	a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma, or

(ii)	a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to higher education, followed by at least three years’ professional experience.

The selection board will allow for differences between education systems. As a general guide, a table showing examples of the minimum qualifications required is annexed to the Guide for Applicants. Note that these are examples only — more stringent requirements may be set in any given notice of competition.

2.   Professional experience

You must have obtained,

—	since obtaining the diploma in A.II.1(i) or

—	since obtaining the diploma and professional experience in A.II.1(ii),

at least three years’ professional experience in the field of production or proofreading of publications.

3.   Knowledge of languages

You must have a perfect knowledge of Romanian and, in the interest of the service, a satisfactory knowledge of English, French or German (3).

Details of this knowledge must be given on optical reader registration form, which is inserted into this Official Journal. You may not subsequently change your choice of language for the tests.

4.   General terms and conditions

You must:

—	be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union or of one of the accession countries (Bulgaria or Romania),

—	enjoy your full rights as citizen,

—	have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you in your home country by the laws on military service,

—	meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

B.   SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

1.   Preselection tests — Marking

(a)	A test in Romanian comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess the candidate's specialist knowledge in the field. This test will be marked out of 60 (pass mark: 30).

(b)

A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess the candidate's knowledge of the European Union, the European Union institutions and Community policies, in English, French or German (as chosen by the candidate and specified on the optical reader registration form). This test will be marked out of 20 (pass mark: 10).

(c)

A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions in English, French or German (as chosen by the candidate and specified on the optical reader registration form) to assess the candidate's general ability, in particular verbal and numerical reasoning skills. This test will be marked out of 20 (pass mark: 10).

Candidates who fail to obtain a pass mark in any of the tests will be eliminated.

Incorrect answers in the preselection tests will not be penalised.

2.   Written test — Marking

Proofreading a text in Romanian (spelling, grammar) and proofreading a series of printer's proofs in Romanian (spelling, grammar and typography) on the basis of manuscripts.

This test will be marked out of 60 (pass mark: 30).

Candidates who fail to obtain a pass mark will be eliminated.

3.   Dates and time allowed for the preselection tests and written test

For organisational reasons, the preselection tests and the written test will be organised simultaneously for all candidates at one or more centres.

The dates and test centres will be set by the administration and can therefore in no circumstances be changed at the request of candidates. You will be notified of the date when you receive your invitation to the tests.

NB. Candidates who, in tests (a), (b) and (c) combined, have obtained both the pass mark and one of the 75  (4)highest scores will be invited to submit a full application with a view to their admission to the competition.Following examination of this application, and subject to all the requirements being satisfied, the written test will be marked.Candidates will not necessarily be admitted to the competition simply because they took the written test at the same time as the preselection tests.

The time allowed for the preselection tests and the written test will be decided by the selection board; you will be notified of the time allowed when you receive your invitation to the tests.

4.   Admission to the competition

Candidates who have obtained the pass mark for each one of tests (a), (b) and (c) and one of the 75 highest scores  (5) in the tests combined, will be invited to submit a full application with a view to their admission to the second stage.

The application form will be sent individually by post and must be returned by the deadline stated in the covering letter. All supporting documents must be enclosed with the application (section C.3).

Following examination of this application, and subject to all the requirements being satisfied (see Section A.II), the written test will be marked.

The candidates who in the written test have obtained both the pass mark and one of the 38 highest scores  (6) will be admitted to the oral test.

5.   Oral test — Marking

An interview with the selection board to enable an assessment to be made of the candidates’ suitability for the duties mentioned in Section A.I within the European civil service. The interview will focus on candidates’ specialised knowledge in the field and their knowledge of the European Union, the European Union institutions and Community policies. Their knowledge of the second language will also be examined. The candidates’ ability to adapt to the multicultural working environment of the European civil service will also be examined during the interview.

This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20).

Candidates who fail to obtain the pass mark will be eliminated.

6.   Reserve list

At the end of the competition, the selection board will draw up a reserve list, in alphabetical order, of the 25 candidates  (7) who, in the written test and the oral test combined (8), obtained both the pass mark and one of the highest scores.

The reserve list and their period of validity will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union  (9).

C.   HOW TO APPLY

(Please refer also to the Guide for Applicants which contains detailed instructions on the correct submission of applications).

Candidates must fulfil all the eligibility criteria (Section A.II) by the deadline for submitting the optical reader registration form.

All communication with the candidates concerning this competition will be in German, English or French, according to the language chosen on the registration form for preselection tests b) and c).

1.   Registration form

Before submitting their applications, candidates should carefully check whether they fulfil all the eligibility criteria set out in Section A, in particular as regards the type of diploma and the professional experience required.

Candidates who wish to apply should complete and sign the original optical reader registration form which can be found in the paper version of the competition notice published in the Official Journal and send it by registered post before the closing date.

Warning to candidates with access to the electronic version of the competition notice: Only the optical reader registration form inserted into the Official Journal printed by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities is regarded as original. Consequently, a photocopy or any other copy of these documents (downloaded electronically, for instance) will not be accepted.

No supporting documents will be accepted at this stage except, where applicable, those relating to any disabilities.

Candidates who have a disability must enclose with their optical reader registration form a certificate to that effect, issued by a recognised body, along with a sheet setting out the arrangements which they consider necessary to help them take part in the preselection and other tests.

Candidates are responsible for ensuring that the optical reader registration form is submitted in time. The postmark will serve as proof of the date of dispatch.

Optical reader registration forms must be sent by registred post, postmarked no later than 31 January 2006, to the following address:

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

Human Resources Unit — Competitions

Open competition EPSO/AST/10/05

2 rue Mercier

L-2985 Luxembourg

2.   Preselection tests/written test

Following a preliminary eligibility check by the administration on the basis of the information given on the optical reader registration form, the selection board will invite to the preselection tests and written test d) those candidates who meet the general terms and conditions (Section A.II.4) and who have submitted the optical reader registration form before the closing date.

Candidates will be invited to the test centre closest to the address given on the optical reader registration form. Candidates will not be allowed to switch to another test centre unless they can prove they have changed residence.

3.   Full application

Once the preselection tests have been marked, candidates who have obtained both the pass mark and the highest scores (Section B.4) will be asked to complete the application form, which will be sent to them individually by post and must be returned by the deadline stated in the covering letter (approximately one month from the date on which these documents are sent by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities).

Documents to enclose with the application form:

Your application must give full details of your studies, your professional experience and citizenship. You should enclose with your application the following documents:

—	a document proving your citizenship (passport, id card etc),

—	copy/copies of diploma(s),

—

evidence of professional experience clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates and the exact nature of the duties carried out, NB: If you are unable to provide an employer's reference, we will accept instead a photocopy of the relevant contract(s) of employment, together with photocopies of your first and last payslip for the period(s).

—	a numbered annex of the above documents.

No documents will be returned, you should therefore send only unauthenticated photocopies of these documents.

You may not refer to any previous application forms submitted or to any other documents enclosed with such applications.

Signing and sending the form:

Candidate are responsible for ensuring that the application form, duly completed, signed and accompanied by all the supporting documents is sent by registered post by the deadline. The postmark will serve as proof of the date of dispatch. The application form should be sent to the following address:

Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

Human Resources Unit — Competitions

Open competition EPSO/AST/10/05

2 rue Mercier

L-2985 Luxembourg

Candidates who are successful in the preselection tests but fail to return the full application form duly completed and signed and accompanied by the requisite supporting documents within the time limit specified, will not be admitted to the next stage of the competition.

Scrutiny of applications:

Before marking the written test, the selection board will examine the files of the best candidates in the preselection test who have obtained the highest scores as well as the passmark in each of the tests (see Section B.4) to determine whether they meet the conditions laid down in Section A.II of the competition notice. Once this test has been marked, candidates who have obtained both the pass mark and the highest scores (Section B.4), will be admitted to the oral test.

This means that candidates will be automatically excluded if:

—	they submitted their application after the deadline,

—	they have not signed (original signature required) and/or completed their registration form,

—	they do not meet all the eligibility conditions,

—	they have not sent all the supporting documents before the closing date.

4.   Establishment of reserve list

After the oral test, the 25 candidates who have obtained both the pass mark and the highest scores in the written and the oral tests combined (Section B.6) will be placed on the reserve list (10).

5.   Invitations

Invitations to the preselection tests and the written test, application forms and invitations to the oral test will be sent by post. Candidates are responsible for notifying the secretariat of the selection board of any change of address. Bearing in mind the time taken for post to be delivered, it is the responsibility of candidates to contact the Publications Office by fax (11) or letter if they have not received, by the deadlines set out in the approximate timetable, an invitation to attend or a letter stating that they have not been admitted to the competition (Section D.3).

6.

If, at any stage in the procedure, it is established that the information given on a candidate's optical reader registration form or full application form is incorrect or is not borne out by the required supporting documents or that he/she does not meet all the conditions for admission to the competition, that candidate will be disqualified.

7.	To facilitate administration, candidates are asked to quote in all correspondence their full name as given on the application form and the number of the competition.

D.   GENERAL INFORMATION

1.   Equal opportunities

The European Union institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without distinction on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religious, political or other convictions or opinions, belonging to a national minority, financial situation, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or family situation.

2.   Selection board

A selection board is appointed for each competition. It is made up of members representing both the Administration and the Staff Committee of the institutions. The names of the members of the selection board will be published in the C/A series of the Official Journal of the European Union. The work of the selection board is secret (12).

Candidates are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board. Any candidate who infringes this rule will be disqualified from the competition.

The Publications Office will be responsible for all communication with candidates until the competition is completed (see address under C.1).

3.   Approximate timetable

Please note that competition procedures take approximately one year, from the deadline for sending in the registration forms, depending on the number of candidates.

—	preselection tests and written test (d): April 2006

—	oral test: September 2006

4.   Requests for access to information

With reference to the competition procedure, a candidate can request certain information relating directly and personally to his/her participation in the competition. A written request has to be sent to the competition administration no later than one month after the candidate has been notified of the results. When dealing with these requests, the confidential nature of the selection board's work will be taken into account (Article 6 of Annex III to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities) as well as compliance with the rules relating to the protection of physical persons with regard to treatment of information of a personal nature.

5.   Requests for review — Appeal procedures — Complaints to the European Ombudsman

For appeal procedures, please refer to the Annex.

6.   Recruitment

A place on the reserve list for this competition does not constitute a guarantee for recruitment. Candidates who are placed on the reserve lists will be eligible for appointment as probationary official as and when required by the Publications Office in Luxembourg or, possibly, other departments of the institutions of the European Union, for posts corresponding to the duties.

Recruitment of officials will take place after Romania's accession to the European Union depending on vacant posts and funds becoming available.

Candidates placed on a reserve list who are offered a post will subsequently be asked to produce the originals of all the requisite documents, such as diplomas, certificates and evidence of employment, so that they can be authenticated.

If the nature of a post should so require, candidates on the reserve list may be offered a temporary contract; in this case, their names will remain on the reserve list.

Article 29(1)(b) of the Staff Regulations refers to the possibility for officials to request a transfer to another institution or agency at any time in their careers. However, in the interests of the service, during their first three years of service newly recruited officials are transferred only in exceptional and duly justified cases. Any such transfer is subject to the agreement of both the institution or agency that originally recruited the official and the institution or agency in receipt of the transfer request.

7.   Retirement

Candidates should note that the retirement age for staff is laid down in the Staff Regulations as follows:

—	either automatically at the age of 65 years,

—	or, at the official's own request, at the age of 63 years or where the official is between 55 and 63 years of age and satisfies, as specified in the Staff Regulations, the requirements for immediate payment of a pension,

—	exceptionally, at the official's own request and where it is considered to be in the interest of the service, at the age of 67 at the latest.

8.   Grade

Assistants will be recruited from the reserve list as grade AST 3.

9.   Remuneration

Basic salary as at 1 January 2005:

grade AST 3, first step: EUR 2 997,60

10.   Protecting personal data

As the body responsible for organising the competition, EPSO ensures that applicants’ personal data is treated as required by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data. This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.

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(1)  The European Union institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without distinction on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religious, political or other convictions or opinions, belonging to a national minority, financial situation, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or family situation.

(2)  If a number of candidates tie for the last place, the selection board will consider them all.

(3)  All communication with the candidates concerning this competition will be in German, English or French, according to the language chosen on the registration form for preselection tests (b) and (c).

(4)  If a number of candidates tie for the last place, the selection board will consider them all.

(5)  If a number of candidates tie for the last place, the selection board will consider them all.

(6)  If a number of candidates tie for the last place, the selection board will consider them all.

(7)  If a number of candidates tie for the last place, the selection board will consider them all.

(8)  Please note that the scores from the preselection test will not be taken into consideration at this stage.

(9)  A successful candidate may explicitly request that his/her name not be published.

(10)  If a number of candidates tie for the last place, the selection board will consider them all.

(11)  Fax (352) 29 29 42750: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

(12)  Article 6 of Annex III of the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities.

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