20.7.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 178/3

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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS

(2005/C 178 A/01)

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising the following open competitions, based on tests, to constitute a reserve pool from which to recruit

ADMINISTRATORS  (1) (AD5)

EPSO/AD/25/05: European public administration/human resources

EPSO/AD/26/05: Law

EPSO/AD/27/05: Audit

EPSO/AD/28/05: Financial resource management

EPSO/AD/29/05: Economics/statistics

CONTENTS

A.	DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

B.	SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

C.	HOW TO APPLY

D.	GENERAL INFORMATION

ANNEX:

Requests for applications to be reconsidered — Appeal procedures — Complaints to the European Ombudsman

A.   DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

The following open competitions are being held to recruit administrators (AD5):

EPSO/AD/25/05: European public administration/human resources

EPSO/AD/26/05: Law

EPSO/AD/27/05: Audit

EPSO/AD/28/05: Management of financial resources

EPSO/AD/29/05: Economics/statistics

The purpose of these competitions is to draw up reserve lists from which to fill vacant posts in the institutions of the European Union.

Number of successful candidates by competition

EPSO/AD/25/05 European public administration/human resources	210
EPSO/AD/26/05 Law	180
EPSO/AD/27/05 Audit	125
EPSO/AD/28/05 Management of financial resources	100
EPSO/AD/29/05 Economics/Statistics	135

—	EPSO/AD/25/05: administrators (AD5) in the field of European public administration/Human resources

—	EPSO/AD/26/05: administrators (AD5) in the field of Law

—	EPSO/AD/27/05: administrators (AD5) in the field of Audit

—	EPSO/AD/28/05: administrators (AD5) in the field of Financial resource management

—	EPSO/AD/29/05: administrators (AD5) in the field of Economics/statistics

—	EPSO/AST/7/05: assistants (AST3) in the fields of financial management/accountancy and project/contract management

Please note that the tests for the above competitions may be held simultaneously. You may therefore apply for one of these competitions and where applicable for one field only. You must choose which one when you register online, and cannot change your choice after the closing date for this inscription.

I.   DUTIES

Conducting analyses and carrying out administrative, advisory and supervisory duties relating to the activities of the European Union.

EPSO/AD/25/05: European public administration/human resources

—	the different Community policies,

—	the management of human resources.

—

preparing, developing and implementing Community initiatives, including working on case studies, producing reports, drafting proposals and taking part in consultations and negotiations within the institution, with business and other interest groups in the Member States, and with the other Community institutions,

—	taking part in international negotiations, implementing bilateral and multilateral agreements, and managing commercial- or development-policy instruments and information and communication policy,

—	managing and implementing policies and Community action programmes in various fields of activity such as the single market, external relations, social affairs, agriculture, structural policies, transport, the environment and information,

—	assisting MEPs, by means of written and oral contributions, and taking an active part in organising the work of different parliamentary bodies,

—	policy formulation and implementation of human resource policies such as recruitment and selection techniques; equal opportunities; training and development; appraisal, promotion and reward mechanisms; counselling, coaching and mentoring; employment law; employee relations.

EPSO/AD/26/05: Law

—	Devising, analysing and drafting Community legislation,

—	providing legal advice,

—	carrying out research into national, Community and international law,

—	taking part in the negotiation of international agreements,

—	analysing and preparing draft decisions, for example in the area of competition law,

—	examining and monitoring national legislation to check that it complies with Community law,

—	investigating alleged infringements of Community law, complaints, etc.,

—	various tasks related to court proceedings; preparing positions for the institutions in court proceedings, mainly before the Court of Justice or the Court of First Instance; legal duties in the secretariats of the Court of Justice or the Court of First Instance,

—	formulating, preparing and implementing rules in the field of justice and home affairs.

EPSO/AD/27/05: Audit

—	external audits, including both financial audits and analyses of sound financial management,

—	internal audits, carried out by either a centralised or a decentralised audit service,

—	checks on public or private bodies managing or using Community funds.

—	examining whether resources are being used efficiently and economically,

—	checking operations to assess whether the results are consistent with the goals, and whether activities are carried out as planned,

—	assessing and managing the risks associated with Community funds allocated to or collected by the various European institutions and bodies, their partners, intermediaries and the final beneficiaries or creditors,

—	evaluating and testing the effectiveness of internal control systems within the institutions and bodies which manage or benefit from Community funding, or record and collect Community revenue,

—	examining the reliability and integrity of information systems,

—	examining the measures taken to safeguard assets,

—	conducting the financial controls required to check on the relevance of declared expenditure and the sound financial management of Community assistance and projects financed from Community funds,

—	examining the legality and correctness of budgetary and financial operations,

—	auditing financial statements for reliability,

—	assessing the systems by which organisations are directed and controlled.

EPSO/AD/28/05: Management of financial resources

—	assisting the administrative authorities with budgetary preparation, implementation and control procedures,

—	checking the financial procedures and circuits of the department concerned for compliance with the Financial Regulation, and supervising the setting-up and functioning of internal financial controls,

—	developing and managing common information systems on financial management,

—	contributing towards the action taken in response to the recommendations of the internal and external auditors, and towards the reports requested by the budgetary and budgetary-control authorities,

—	monitoring and checking procurement procedures and the performance of contracts,

—	advising the authorising services on sound financial management and efficient spending,

—	contributing to the reporting required by the financial rules,

—	contributing to the annual exercises for the self-assessment of risks.

EPSO/AD/29/05: Economics/statistics

—	Ongoing evaluation of Member States' economic, budgetary, monetary and financial policies,

—	analysis of Member States' economies and development of the Community's financial instruments,

—	analysis of the economies of non-Community countries,

—	economic forecasting,

—	planning and implementing of Community technical assistance,

—	analysis and evaluation of structural, sectoral and regional policies,

—	financial analysis of Community projects,

—	analysis of the legislative and tax environment for business,

—	competition policy,

—	commercial, employment and labour market policy,

—	statistical methodology,

—	statistics applied to the economic, social affairs/demography, agronomy/environment, accounting/finance and other fields,

—	analysis of demand and use of available data, devising and management of projects and processes,

—	definition of objectives and coordination of activities relating to the collection and approval of statistical data, management of operating systems, and improvement of quality and dissemination,

—	harmonisation of collection, and development of procedures for the collection, processing, validation and analysis of statistical data,

—	statistical and economic modelling and studies,

—	microeconomic and industrial-policy analysis,

—	research and development policies, and innovation policy,

—	quantitative analysis, particularly statistical and econometric analysis.

The European institutions place particular importance on the ability of candidates to grasp problems of all kinds, often complex in nature, to react rapidly to changing circumstances and to communicate effectively. You will have to show initiative and imagination and be highly motivated. You should be able to work frequently under pressure, both on your own and in a team, and to adjust to a multicultural working environment. You must be prepared to develop your professional skills throughout your career.

II.    ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT)

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

1.   Certificates and diplomas

EPSO/AD/25/05: European public administration/human resources

You must have a level of education corresponding to a full university course of at least three years' duration attested by a degree.

EPSO/AD/26/05: Law

You must have a level of education corresponding to a full university course of at least three years' duration attested by a degree in law.

EPSO/AD/27/05: Audit

You must have a level of education corresponding to a full university course of at least three years' duration attested by a degree in a relevant subject or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level in a relevant field.

If your degree is not in a field relevant to the duties concerned, you must have an additional qualification which is relevant.

EPSO/AD/28/05: Management of financial resources

You must have a level of education corresponding to a full university course of at least three years' duration attested by a degree in a relevant subject.

EPSO/AD/29/05: Economics/statistics

You must have a level of education corresponding to a full university course of at least three years' duration attested by a degree in economics and/or statistics.

The selection boards will allow for differences between education systems. As a general guide, see the examples of the minimum qualifications required in the tables annexed to the Guide for Applicants (2) (see EPSO website) for each category. Note that these are examples only, more stringent requirements may be set in any given notice of competition.

2.   Knowledge of languages  (3)

(a)	a thorough knowledge of one of the following official languages of the European Union (main language): Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or Swedish

(b)	a satisfactory knowledge of a second of these languages.

You must state in the online inscription form  (4) and in the paper application which languages you choose for each of the different tests. After the deadline for confirmation of your inscription, you may not change the languages in which you have specified that you wish to take the tests (see C.1).

All EPSO's communications to candidates concerning these competitions will be in English, French or German. However, you may address EPSO in one of the languages listed at A.II.2(a).

3.   General terms and 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.

B.   SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION

1.   Pre-selection tests — Marking

You will sit tests (a), (b), and (c) in your second language (see Section A, point II.2) as specified by you on the online inscription form.

(a)	A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your specialist knowledge. This test will be marked out of 60 (pass-mark: 30).

(b)	A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and its policies. This test will be marked out of 20 (pass-mark: 10). Time allowed for tests (a) and (b) combined: 1 hour and 10 minutes

(c)	A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, and in particular your verbal and numerical reasoning skills. This test will be marked out of 40 (pass-mark: 20). Time allowed for the test: 1 hour

Wrong answers in the pre-selection tests will not be penalised.

For all the pre-selection tests the candidates (5) (see table below) who obtain the best marks as well as the pass-mark in each of these tests will be invited to submit a full application with a view to being admitted to the competition.

EPSO/AD/25/05: European public administration/human resources	630
EPSO/AD/26/05: Law	540
EPSO/AD/27/05: Audit	380
EPSO/AD/28/05: Management of financial resources	300
EPSO/AD/29/05: Economics/Statistics	410

NOTE: for organisational reasons, written test (d) will be held on the same day as pre-selection tests (a), (b) and (c).

The selection board will mark your written test (d) if, after considering your application, it establishes that you meet all the eligibility criteria.

The fact that you have been invited to sit written test (d) at the same time as pre-selection tests (a), (b) and (c) does not mean you have been admitted to the competition.

2.   Written test — Marking

(d)

Test in your main language, on a subject related to the competition you have chosen, to assess your: — specialist knowledge, — comprehension skills and ability to analyse and summarise, and — drafting skills. This test will be marked out of 50 (pass-mark: 25). Time allowed for the test: 2 hours and 30 minutes

The selection board will invite to oral test (e) the candidates (5) (see table below) who obtained the best marks, as well as a pass-mark in written test (d), and who meet the conditions for admission to the competition.

EPSO/AD/25/05: European public administration/human resources	315
EPSO/AD/26/05: Law	270
EPSO/AD/27/05: Audit	190
EPSO/AD/28/05: Management of financial resources	150
EPSO/AD/29/05: Economics/statistics	205

3.   Oral test — Marking

(e)

Interview with the selection board in your main language to enable it to assess your suitability to carry out the duties described at section A.I above. This interview will focus in particular on your specialist knowledge in the field chosen and your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and its policies. Knowledge of your second language will also be tested. The interview is also designed to evaluate your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment. This test will be marked out of 50 (pass-mark: 25).

4.   Date for the tests

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

The date of the pre-selection and other tests, will be scheduled by the European Personnel Selection Office and cannot be changed at a candidate's request. These details will be notified when you receive your invitation to the tests (via your EPSO profile).

For organisational reasons, and depending on the number of candidates, pre-selection tests (a), (b) and (c) may take place via computer, in specialised testing centres.Should this be the case, the exact nature of this procedure will be laid out either in an addendum to the Official Journal or as a modification to the notice of open competition. Similarly, the organisation of one or more of the pre-selection tests may be modified.

5.   Reserve list

The selection board will draw up reserve lists by competition, divided into (no more than four) merit groups sorted in alphabetical order, of the candidates (5) (see section A, number of successful candidates) having obtained the best marks in written test (d) and oral test (e) combined and who have obtained the pass-mark in each of these tests.

The reserve lists, together with their expiry date, will be published (6) in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the EPSO website (7).

C.   HOW TO APPLY

Please refer also to the Guide for Applicants  (2), which can be found on the EPSO website  (7). Here you can find detailed instructions to help you submit your application correctly.

1.   Creation of an EPSO profile/electronic inscription

Before submitting your inscription, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria (see section A, particularly concerning the types of diplomas required).

If you want to apply, you must register via the internet by going to the EPSO website (7) and following the instructions there concerning the various stages of the procedure.

It is your responsibility to complete your online inscription in time (8). We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy internet traffic or a fault with your internet connection could lead to the online inscription being terminated before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process, and once the deadline has passed you will not be able to do so.

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

If you do not receive a number, your inscription 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 includes the languages you choose (see A.II.2), the details of your qualifications (title, name of issuing establishment and date obtained).

Once registered, you can use the website (7) (click on ‘Ongoing competitions’) to follow the progress of the competition.

If you have a disability that prevents you from registering online, you may request, preferably by fax, a paper version of the form  (9) , which you should fill in, sign and return by registered mail, postmarked no later than the closing date for inscription. All subsequent communication between EPSO and you will be by post.

You must enclose with your application 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.

The closing date for inscriptions is 29 September 2005. Online inscription will not be possible after 12.00 noon Brussels time on that day.

NB: Within one month following the final date for inscription, EPSO will invite you to confirm your inscription and your choice of language and where applicable, to choose the city in which you wish to sit the pre-selection tests/written test. The invitation and confirmation will take place solely via your EPSO profile. If you do not confirm your application within two months following the final date for inscription, EPSO will consider that you have withdrawn your application. Your application will therefore be terminated.

2.   Pre-selection tests/written test

The candidates invited to the pre-selection tests/written test will be those who are found to meet the general terms and conditions (see A.II.3) after EPSO has carried out a preliminary eligibility check based on the information given in the registration forms, and who have confirmed their inscription in time. Please note that an invitation to attend the pre-selection tests does not imply that the eligibility of the candidate has been fully checked.

3.   Invitations

Information about the invitation to attend the pre-selection tests/written test, the full application form and the invitation to the oral test will be available only on the EPSO website (7). You can access it using the user name and password you specify when registering. You are responsible for updating, via your EPSO profile, any change in your postal or e-mail address.

You are responsible for keeping track of the progress of the competition, ensuring that for each stage you can access the information relevant to your application by consulting your EPSO profile. If you find that you cannot do this, you must notify EPSO immediately by e-mail (10).

As far as possible you will be asked to sit the pre-selection tests and the written test in the city you choose when you apply. 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 no later than three weeks before the planned date of the pre-selection tests/written tests.

The oral test will normally be held in Brussels.

4.   Full application

The candidates as referred to in section B.1 will be asked to print and complete the full application form which they will find in their EPSO profile on the website (7). It must be sent in by the closing date (11).

Documents to enclose with the application form

—	a document proving your citizenship (e.g. passport),

—	diploma(s),

—	a numbered annex of the above documents.

You should send only unauthenticated photocopies of these documents.

You must fill in the application form in full, i.e. you may not simply refer to any previous application forms submitted or to any other documents enclosed with such applications. None of the documents submitted 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 in time  (11) by registered post (the postmark will serve as proof of the date of sending) to the following address:

European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

Mail service

CORT 80

Open competition EPSO/AD/../05 (indicate the number of the competition chosen)

B-1049 Brussels.

Scrutiny of applications

The selection board will examine the files of the candidates who have obtained the best marks in the pre-selection tests and who have obtained the pass-mark in each of the tests to determine whether they meet the conditions laid down in section A.II.1 and 2 of this notice. The selection board will then mark the written test of the candidates who meet all the conditions for admission set out in section A.II. and will invite the candidates who have obtained the best marks and the pass-mark in the written test (see B.2) to the oral test.

You will automatically be disqualified if:

—	you have posted your application after the closing date,

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

—	you do not meet all the eligibility criteria,

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

NB: Candidates who are successful in the pre-selection 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 (11), will not be admitted to the next stage of the competition.

5.   Establishment of the reserve lists

The names of successful candidates (see B.5) will be included in the reserve lists

6.	If, at any stage in the procedure, it is established that the information on your electronic registration form or official application form is incorrect you will be disqualified from the competition.

7.	To facilitate the administration of the competition, in all correspondence you SHOULD GIVE YOUR FULL NAME AS IN YOUR APPLICATION, THE NUMBER OF THE COMPETITION, YOUR MAIN LANGUAGE TOGETHER WITH THE REFERENCE NUMBER YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOU APPLY ONLINE.

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 administrations and the Staff Committees of the institutions. The names of the members of the selection board will be published on the EPSO website (7) approximately a fortnight before the pre-selection tests/written test.

You are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board, either directly or indirectly. Any infringement of this rule will lead to you being disqualified from the competition.

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is responsible for all communication with candidates until the competition is completed.

3.   Approximate timetable

The competition will take approximately nine months starting from the date of confirmation of inscription, depending on the number of candidates.

Full details will be available on the EPSO website (7).

4.   Candidates' requests for information regarding their applications

The candidates' right to have access to information concerning their applications within the context of selection procedures is recognised under the conditions indicated hereafter. The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) may provide a candidate, on his/her request, with extra information concerning the candidate's participation in an open competition. The requests for information should be addressed in writing to EPSO within one month following notification of the results obtained in the competition. EPSO will reply within one month following receipt of the request. All requests will be dealt with whilst respecting the secret nature of the proceedings of the selection boards as provided for by the Staff Regulations (Annex III, Article 6) and in accordance with existing rules surrounding data protection in the treatment of private information on individuals. Examples of such answers to requests are laid out in the ‘Guide to Applicants’ at point III.2.

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 eligible for appointment as a probationary official, as and when required by the European institutions, in Brussels, Luxembourg or any other place of activity.

If you are offered a post, you will be asked to produce the originals of all the requisite documents such as diplomas, so that copies can be authenticated.

Recruitment will depend on vacant posts and funds becoming available.

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

7.   Pension

—	either automatically at 65 years of age,

—	or, at the officials own request, at the age of 63, 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 officials 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

This reserve pool of Administrators is for the grade AD5.

9.   Remuneration

Basic monthly salary as at 1 January 2005:

grade AD5, first step: EUR 3 837,37

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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)  http://www.europa.eu.int/epso/on-line-applications/guide_en.htm

(3)  Article 2 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 401/2004 of 23 February 2004 lays down that until 31 December 2010, open competitions are to be held to recruit officials with one of these 11 official languages as their main language.

(4)  For practical reasons this form is available in English, French or German only.

(5)  Given that the appointing authority (AIPN) has given mandate to the selection board to strictly keep to this number of candidates the selection board may not exceed this number. However, if a number of candidates have obtained the same number of marks for the last place, the selection board will admit all of them.

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

(7)  http://www.europa.eu.int/epso.

(8)  No later than 12 noon, Brussels time, on 29 September 2005.

(9)  EPSO - Info-recruitment — CORT 80 0/48 — B-1049 Brussels — Fax (32-2) 295 74 88.

(10)  E-mail address: epso-AD-..-05-en@cec.eu.int (indicate the number of the competition chosen).

(11)  The closing date will be indicated in good time in your EPSO profile.

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