19.6.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 154/1

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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION

EPSO/AST/65/08

(2008/C 154 A/01)

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising an open competition, based on qualifications and tests, to establish a reserve from which to recruit

LANGUAGE EDITORS (AST 3)  (1)

WITH LATVIAN AS THEIR MAIN LANGUAGE

KOREKTORI/VALODAS REDAKTORI (latviešu valoda)

CONTENTS

A.	DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

B.	TEST PROCEDURES

C.	HOW TO APPLY

D.	GENERAL INFORMATION

ANNEX:

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

A.   DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

Open competition EPSO/AST/65/08 is being held to recruit Assistants (AST 3) with Latvian as their main language to prepare and check the linguistic quality of the texts for the Reports of Cases before the Court of Justice.

The purpose of this competition is to draw up a reserve list of 14 successful candidates (2) from which to fill vacant posts in the European Union institutions (specifically the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg).

The Commission is not associated with this competition and will not be recruiting from the reserve list.

I.   DUTIES

The Directorate-General for Translation of the Court of Justice is responsible for preparing the texts for publication of the Court Reports. In this context, proofreading teams directly attached to the translation units perform the following tasks in particular:

—	linguistic checking and editing of documents for publication,

—	checking texts against the originals, which are usually in French,

—	checking for compliance with style conventions and rules,

—	preparing issues of the Court Reports for printing and finalising texts in typographical terms, in collaboration with Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

The proofreading team is also responsible for monitoring linguistic developments and changes and keeping the lawyer-linguists of the unit up to date. The language editors are responsible for training outside (freelance) staff and checking the quality of documents proofread by them. They work in a computerised environment. They participate actively in the terminology work of the unit and play an essential part in the quality control of translations of the judgments of the Court, the Court of First Instance and the Civil Service Tribunal.

An excellent knowledge of Latvian is essential, plus professional experience in a field relevant to the duties involved. Also required are the ability to fit in well as part of a team, a sense of responsibility, the ability to adapt to a multicultural working environment and the ability to cope with peaks in the workload.

II.   ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

1.   Eligibility

(a)	General conditions

You must:

—	be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union,

—	enjoy your full rights as a citizen,

—	have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service,

—	meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

The competition notice does not set any age limit, but please note the information in Section D.7 of this notice concerning the retirement age.

2.   Specific conditions

(a)   Qualifications

(i)	The posts to be filled require a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma in the language of the competition [Kandidātiem ir jābūt diplomam par Latvijā akreditētā studiju programmā iegūtu augstāko izglītību (vismaz bakalaura grādam)]; OR

(ii)	a level of secondary education in the language of the competition attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, followed by at least three years' professional experience.

NB: the minimum of three years' professional experience required under (ii) above counts as an integral part of the above qualification and cannot be included in the professional experience required under (b) below.

The selection board will allow for differences between education systems. For examples of the minimum qualifications required, see the table annexed to the Guide for Applicants for each category. Note that these are examples only — stricter requirements may be set in the competition notice.

(b)   Professional experience

You must:

—	since obtaining the qualification required under (i), OR

—	since obtaining the qualification and professional experience required under (ii) above,

have acquired at least two years' professional experience in a field relevant to the duties in question.

(c)   Knowledge of languages

You must have:

(a)	a perfect command of Latvian (language 1);

(b)	a satisfactory knowledge of French (language 2);

You must indicate your knowledge of languages when you register online  (3) and on your application form (which you should print out from the website before the deadline for online registration: 12 noon on 24 July 2008).

Under Article 45(2) of the Staff Regulations, officials must prove their ability to work in a third language before their first promotion after recruitment.

To ensure that all general texts relating to the competition and all communication between you and EPSO are clearly understood on both sides, only English, French or German will be used for the invitations to the various tests and correspondence between you and EPSO.

You may send any questions to EPSO by e-mail (EPSO-AST-65-08@ec.europa.eu), but please check first that the information you want is not in the competition notice or the Guide for Applicants or on the EPSO website (http://europa.eu/epso).

B.   TEST PROCEDURES

1.   Admission to the competition

(a)	The appointing authority will draw up a list of the candidates who meet the conditions set out in Section A.II.1 and send it to the chair of the selection board together with their application files.

(b)	After having taken note of the candidates' files, the selection board will draw up a list of those who meet the conditions set out in Section A.II.2 and are therefore admitted to the competition.

2.   Selection on the basis of qualifications

After setting the assessment criteria to be used, the selection board will scrutinise the qualifications of all the candidates admitted to the competition and will decide who is to be admitted to the tests.

This selection is made by the board on the basis of the supporting documents provided by candidates by the closing date for applications and on the basis of the information in their curriculum vitae (see Section C.2).

You should therefore include in your file a copy of all the supporting documents the selection board may require to make its selection on the basis of qualifications; otherwise you may be refused admission to the tests.

3.   Written tests — Marking

(a)	Proofreading, correcting and finalising one or more legal texts in Latvian. Proofreading will cover both the linguistic (grammar, spelling and punctuation) and typographical aspects. Candidates must give the reasons for the corrections made. This test will be marked out of 60 (pass mark: 30).

(b)	Proofreading and correcting a legal text in Latvian, comparing it with the French original. This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20). If you do not obtain the pass mark, you will be eliminated.

4.   Oral test — Marking

Interview with the selection board in Latvian to enable it to assess your suitability to perform the duties described in Section A.I in the European civil service.

The interview will focus in particular on your specialist knowledge in the field and your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and its policies. Your knowledge of French will also be examined. The interview is also designed to assess your ability to adjust to working in the multicultural environment of the European civil service.

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

If you do not obtain the pass mark, you will be eliminated.

The time allowed for the tests will be decided by the selection board.

5.   Date of the tests

The written tests will be held simultaneously for all candidates at one or more centres in the European Union.

The date scheduled by EPSO for the tests cannot be changed at your request. You will be given all the necessary information when you receive your invitation to the tests (via your EPSO file).

The oral test will normally be held in Brussels or Luxembourg.

6.   Reserve list

The selection board will place on the reserve list the names of the candidates with the highest aggregate marks in the written and oral tests and a pass mark in each (2).

The list will be drawn up by merit group (maximum of four groups) and names will be listed in alphabetical order within each group.

The reserve list and the date on which it expires will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union  (4) and on the EPSO website (5).

C.   HOW TO APPLY

Please consult the Guide for Applicants (http://europa.eu/epso/on-line-applications/guide_en.htm), which can be found on the EPSO website (http://europa.eu/epso). It contains detailed instructions to help you submit your application correctly.

Your application will be rejected if, by the closing deadline, you have not:

—	registered online, AND

—	sent in your full paper application form by registered post.

The closing date for registration is 24 July 2008. The deadline for online registration is 12 noon (Brussels time) on the same day.

1.   Creating an EPSO profile/Online registration

Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria (see Section A, in particular as regards the qualifications required).

If you decide to apply, you must register via the Internet by going to the EPSO website and following the instructions there concerning the various stages of the procedure.

It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time (6). We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy Internet traffic or a problem with the Internet connection could lead to your online registration being interrupted before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process. Once the deadline has passed, you will not be able to register.

On completion of your online registration, you will receive on screen a registration number, which you must note — this will be your reference number in all matters concerning your application. Once you receive this number, the registration process is finished — it is the confirmation that we have registered the data you entered.

If you do not receive a number, your application has not been registered!

Please note that you must have an e-mail address. This will be used to identify you. The information you must enter in your registration includes your choice of languages (see A.II.2.c), and details of the diploma entitling you to be admitted to the competition (title, name of issuing establishment and date obtained).

Once you have registered online, you can follow the progress of the competition by going to the EPSO website (http://europa.eu/epso) and clicking on ‘Ongoing competitions’.

If you have a disability that prevents you from registering online, you may request a paper version of the form  (7) – preferably by fax — which you should fill in, sign and return by registered mail, postmarked no later than the closing date for registration. All subsequent communication between EPSO and you will be by post.

You must enclose with your registration form a certificate attesting your disability, issued by a recognised body. You should also set out on a separate sheet of paper any special arrangements you think are needed to make it easier for you to take part in the tests.

2.   Full application by registered post

In addition to registering online, you must print out and complete the full application form on the EPSO website and send it to EPSO by the closing date (8).

Documents to enclose with your application form

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

—	a detailed curriculum vitae,

—	a copy of a document proving your citizenship (e.g. your passport, identity card or any other official document specifying your citizenship, which must have been obtained no later than the closing date for online registration),

—	a copy of the diploma(s) attesting successful completion of your studies,

—	employers' references clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates and the level and exact nature of the duties carried out; you will be given more detailed instructions, via your EPSO profile, on how to present your professional experience.

You should also enclose a numbered index of these documents on a separate sheet.

A CURRICULUM VITAE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID SUPPORTING DOCUMENT.

To speed up the processing and examination of files, you are asked to provide a translation into English, French or German (which you may do yourself) of all supporting documents relating to your diplomas and professional experience. However, possible omission of such a translation will not constitute reason for exclusion.

You should only send photocopies (which do not need to be certified) of these documents. Paper copies of web pages and/or references to websites do not constitute supporting documents for these purposes.

When completing your application form, you may not refer to any previous applications submitted or other documents enclosed with such applications. None of the documents enclosed with your application will be returned.

Signing and sending the form

It is your responsibility to make sure that your application form, duly completed, SIGNED and accompanied by all the supporting documents, is sent by registered post to the address below by the closing date  (8) (the postmark will serve as proof of the date of sending):

European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

C-80

Open competition EPSO/AST/65/08

B-1049 Brussels

You will be disqualified if, by the closing date for registering online and sending off your full application form (24 July 2008):

—	you have not completed your online registration,

—	you have not sent off your application form by post,

—	you have not completed and/or signed the application form (original signature required),

—	you do not satisfy all the requirements for admission,

—	you have not sent all the supporting documents.

3.   Invitations to the tests

Details of when and where to attend the written and oral tests will be available only on the EPSO website. You can access this information by entering the user name and password you specified when registering online. You are responsible for updating your EPSO profile to reflect any change in your postal or e-mail address.

You are also responsible for consulting your EPSO profile to keep track of the progress of the competition and to check the information relevant to your application at every stage. If you find that you cannot do this, you must notify EPSO immediately by e-mail (EPSO-AST-65-08@ec.europa.eu).

As far as possible you will be asked to sit the written tests at the test centre which is considered closest to the address given at the time of your online registration. For organisational reasons you will not be able to switch to another venue unless you can prove that you have changed residence and have informed EPSO of this at least three weeks before the planned date of the written tests.

4.   Reserve list

The names of the successful candidates (see Section B.6) will be entered on the reserve list.

5.	If, at any stage in the procedure, it is established that you have knowingly given false information in your online registration or official application form, you will be disqualified from the competition.

6.	To simplify administration of the competition, please quote in all correspondence YOUR FULL NAME AS GIVEN ON YOUR APPLICATION FORM, THE COMPETITION NUMBER, AND THE REFERENCE NUMBER YOU RECEIVED WHEN YOUR ONLINE REGISTRATION WAS ACCEPTED.

D.   GENERAL INFORMATION

1.   Equal opportunities

The European Union institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without discrimination on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

2.   Selection board

A selection board is appointed for each competition. Its members are designated by the institutions and their staff committees in equal numbers. The chair and members are then appointed by the appointing authority of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). Their names will be published on the EPSO website after candidates have been notified whether they have been admitted to the competition.

EPSO is responsible for all communication with you until the competition is completed. You are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board, either directly or indirectly. The selection board will decide whether candidates infringing this rule are to be disqualified.

3.   Approximate timetable

Depending on the total number of candidates, the competition will take approximately one year from the closing date for online registration.

Full details are available on the EPSO website.

4.   Requests from candidates for access to information concerning them

Candidates involved in selection procedures have the specific right of access to certain information concerning them directly and individually, as described below. EPSO may accordingly provide candidates who so request with supplementary information relating to their participation in the competition. Candidates must send such requests in writing to EPSO within a month of being notified of their results in the competition. EPSO will reply within a month of receiving the request. Requests will be dealt with taking account of the confidential nature of selection board proceedings under the Staff Regulations (Annex III, Article 6) and in compliance with the rules on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data. Examples of the type of information which may be supplied are given in the Guide for Applicants (see III.3).

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

See Annex.

6.   Recruitment

If you are placed on the reserve list, you will be recruited as a probationary official and eligible for appointment as a language editor. You will be expected to perform these duties for a minimum period, which can vary from one institution to another, before you can be assigned to other duties (by reassignment, internal transfer or transfer between the institutions). You will be recruited as and when required by the Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

If you are placed on the reserve list and offered a post, you will subsequently be asked to produce the originals of all the requisite documents, such as diplomas, certificates and statements of employment, of which you have sent photocopies.

Recruitment will depend on posts and funds becoming available.

Depending on the nature of the post, 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 during their career. However, in the interests of the service, newly recruited officials are transferred only in exceptional and duly justified cases during their first three years of service. Any such transfer is subject to the agreement of both the institution or agency that originally recruited the official and the institution or agency to which the official requests to be transferred.

7.   Retirement

Under the provisions of the Staff Regulations, officials are retired:

—	automatically at the age of 65 years, or

—	at their own request, either where they are at least 63 years of age or where they are between 55 and 63 and satisfy the requirements laid down in the Staff Regulations for the immediate payment of a pension, or

—	exceptionally, at their own request and where it is considered to be in the interest of the service, at not later than the age of 67.

8.   Grade

Language editors will be recruited from the reserve list to grade AST 3.

9.   Remuneration

Basic monthly salary as at 1 January 2008:

grade AST 3, first step: EUR 3 165,35

10.   Protection of personal data

As the body responsible for organising the competition, EPSO ensures that applicants' personal data are processed as required by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of 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 (OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1). 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 discrimination on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

(2)  Where a number of candidates with equal marks tie for the last available place, the selection board will admit all of them.

(3)  For practical reasons the online registration form is available only in English, French and German.

(4)  A successful candidate may explicitly ask for his/her name not to be published. Any such request must reach EPSO no later than two weeks after candidates are notified of the results.

(5)  http://europa.eu/epso

(6)  No later than 12 noon, Brussels time, on 24 July 2008.

(7)  EPSO — Info-recruitment — Avenue de Cortenbergh, 80 — B-1049 Brussels — Fax: (32 2) 295 74 88.

(8)  Postmarked no later than 24 July 2008.

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