Option 1

Option 2

46

32

Successful candidates on these lists will be recruited in both Brussels and Luxembourg.

This competition includes two options. You may apply for only one of these options.

You must make your choice when you apply online and you will not be able to change it after you have confirmed and validated your online application form.

This competition is intended for candidates who have a perfect command (2), both written and spoken, of Croatian (mother tongue or equivalent knowledge), and a thorough knowledge of their first and second source languages. If you do not have such a command, we would strongly advise you not to apply.

You should note in particular that this competition is primarily intended to ensure that the European Civil Service is adequately staffed to meet the needs of Croatian accession. This is essential if the principle of administrative continuity recognised by the courts of the Union is to be observed and if the smooth working of the European Civil Service is to be maintained. Preparatory steps to this end therefore need to be taken now, regardless of the outcome of the ratification process for the Accession Treaty and the regulations implementing it. The validity of the reserve list thus depends on ratification of the Accession Treaty by all the Member States. It is important to be aware that if the Accession Treaty is not ratified or if the implementing regulations do not enter into force, the selection process may be cancelled at any time and that if the process has already been completed, candidates entered on the reserve list cannot invoke any rights by virtue of that fact.

2.1.

Qualifications

A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma.

2.2.

Professional experience

No professional experience is required.

2.3.

Knowledge of languages

OPTION 1

Language 1

Language 2

Language 3

OPTION 2

Language 1

Language 2

Language 3

Following the judgment given by the Court of Justice of the European Union (Grand Chamber) in Case C-566/10 P, Italian Republic v Commission, the EU institutions must state the reasons for limiting the choice of the second language in this competition to a small number of official EU languages.

Candidates are therefore informed that the second language options in this competition have been defined in line with the interests of the service, which require new recruits to be immediately operational and capable of communicating effectively in their daily work. Otherwise the efficient functioning of the institutions could be severely impaired.

It has long been the practice to use mainly English, French and German for internal communication in the EU institutions, and these are also the languages most often needed when communicating with the outside world and dealing with cases. Moreover, where candidates for competitions are free to choose their second language, these three are by far the most common choices. This confirms what is currently expected of candidates for European Union posts in terms of their level of education and professional skills, namely that they should be proficient in at least one of these languages. Consequently, in balancing the interests and needs of the service and the abilities of candidates, and given the particular field of this competition, it is legitimate to organise tests in the three languages so as to ensure that all candidates are proficient in at least one of them for the purposes of work, whatever their first official EU language.

To ensure equal treatment for all candidates, everyone — including those whose first official language is one of the three — must take the test in their second language, chosen from among these three. Assessing specific competencies in this way allows the institutions to evaluate candidates' ability to be immediately operational in an environment that closely matches the reality they would face on the job. None of this affects the possibility of later language training to enable staff to work in a third language, as required under Article 45(2) of the Staff Regulations.

You will be invited to sit the tests if you have validated your application on time (see section VIII).

Important:

A series of tests comprising multiple-choice questions to assess your general aptitudes and competencies as regards:

Test (a)

Verbal reasoning

Marking: this test will be marked out of 20.

Test (b)

Numerical reasoning

Marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Pass mark: 4

Test (c)

Abstract reasoning

Marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Aggregate pass mark for tests (a) and (c): 15

Test (d)

Language test

Marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Pass mark: 5

Test (e)

Language test

Marking: this test will be marked out of 10.

Pass mark: 5

Language 2: tests (a), (b) and (c)

Language 1: test (d)

Language 3: test (e)

Translation tests will be used to assess your specific competencies

Admission test (b) is eliminatory, but the marks for the test will not be added to the marks from the other tests to identify the candidates to invite to the translation tests.

The number of candidates invited to the translation tests will be approximately 3 times the number of successful candidates sought that is indicated in the competition notice and it will be published on EPSO's website (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/eu-careers.info/).

The translation tests will be held in test centres in the Member States and Croatia.

Each translation test will be marked out of 80.

Pass mark: 40

If you fail test (a), test (b) will not be marked.

You will be invited to the assessment centre, normally a one-day session in Brussels, if you obtain the pass mark and one of the highest marks in the translation tests. The marks obtained in these tests will be added to your marks for the assessment centre.

The number of candidates invited to the assessment centre, per option, will be approximately 2 times the number of successful candidates sought that is indicated in the competition notice, and it will be published on EPSO's website (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/eu-careers.info/).

The role of the assessment centre is to assess your general competencies (6) in your first source language (Language 2), i.e. English (EN), French (FR) or German (DE), by means of the following exercises:

Each general competency will be tested as follows:

Structured interview

Group exercise

Oral presentation

Analysis and problem-solving

x

x

Communication

x

x

Delivering quality and results

x

x

Learning and development

x

x

Prioritising and organising

x

x

Resilience

x

x

Working with others

x

x

Leadership

x

x

Marked out of 80 for all general competencies (10 per competency)

Pass mark: an aggregate of 40 for all eight general competencies

An aggregate mark, based on all of your marks for the translation tests (specific competencies) and the assessment centre exercises (general competencies), will be calculated as follows:

Specific competencies: tests (a) and (b): 65 % of the overall mark

General competencies: exercises (c), (d) and (e): 35 % of the overall mark

The selection board will place your name on the reserve list:

Supporting documents will be verified in descending order of candidates' marks until the number of candidates who can be placed on the reserve list and who actually fulfil all the conditions for admission reaches the threshold.

The files of candidates below this threshold will not be examined. If verification shows that the information given by any candidate in their online application form (8) is not borne out by appropriate supporting documents, they will be disqualified from the competition.

Lists will be drawn up for each option and names will be listed in alphabetical order.

You must apply online, following the instructions on the EPSO website and particularly in the online application manual.

Deadline (including validation): 23 July 2013 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time.

If you are one of the candidates invited to the assessment centre (9), you will have to bring with you your full application file (signed online application form and supporting documents) when you come to the assessment centre.

Procedure: see point 6.1 of the Guide to open competitions.