18.3.2009

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 63/1

NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS

(2009/C 63 A/01)

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

EPSO/AST/91/09 — ASSISTANTS (1) (AST 3) IN THE ‘OFFSET PRINTING’ FIELD

EPSO/AST/92/09 — ASSISTANTS (1) (AST 3) IN THE ‘PRE-PRESS’ FIELD

The purpose of competition EPSO/AST/91/09 is to draw up a reserve list from which to fill vacant posts at the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

The purpose of competition EPSO/AST/92/09 is to draw up a reserve list from which to fill vacant posts at the European Parliament, the Council, the European Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions.

Candidates must consult the general rules governing open competitions, published in Official Journal C 47 A of 26 February 2009 and on the EPSO website. The general rules apply as an integral part of the notice of competition and contain provisions on the procedure for competitions and submitting applications.

CONTENTS

I.	GENERAL BACKGROUND

II.

DUTIES

III.	ELIGIBILITY

IV.	ADMISSION TESTS

V.	OPEN COMPETITION

VI.	RESERVE LISTS

VII.	HOW TO APPLY

I. GENERAL BACKGROUND

1.	Number of successful candidates by competition

EPSO/AST/91/09 = 5

EPSO/AST/92/09 = 21

Remarks

You may apply for only one of the two competitions, as the tests may be held at the same time. You must make your choice when you apply on-line and you will not be able to change it after the deadline for applications.

II. DUTIES

EPSO/AST/91/09 (AST 3): OFFSET — General function: printing

1.	Printing tasks

1.1	printing and preparing documents, in particular on offset, in small or medium format

1.2	cutting, assembling, stapling and binding documents

1.3	preparing printing and cutting machines for operation

1.4	routine handling work (handling and transporting printed copies, cleaning of machines, etc.)

1.5	routine checks and maintenance of technical equipment

1.6	positioning and preparing offset plates using the ‘computer to plate’ system

1.7	receiving, checking and sending files (PDF and others)

1.8	quality control and checking proofs

2.	Administrative tasks

2.1	monitoring of work/planning

2.2	managing and archiving individual files/plates

2.3	updating technical and statistical sheets

EPSO/AST/92/09 (AST 3): PRE-PRESS — General function: computer graphics

1.	Computer graphics/graphic tasks

1.1	carrying out complex computer graphic work in the various languages of the EU (work requiring knowledge of typography rules and using computerised techniques on MACs/PCs, such as QuarkXpress, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Photoshop and others)

1.2	graphics work (creating projects, etc.)

1.3	assistance with the management of file archiving and back up

1.4	routine maintenance of equipment

1.5	assistance with updating page-setting programmes and sending files

1.6	receiving, checking and sending files (PDF and others)

1.7	quality control and checking proofs

1.8	scanning original paper documents

1.9	positioning and preparing offset plates using the ‘computer to plate’ system

2.	Administrative tasks

2.1	monitoring of work/planning

2.2	managing and archiving individual files

2.3	updating technical and statistical sheets

The general profile of candidates sought by the institutions is described in point 1.2 of the general rules governing open competitions.

III. ELIGIBILITY

On the closing date for on-line applications, you must fulfil the following general and specific conditions:

III. 1. General conditions

(a)	You must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.

(b)	You must enjoy your full rights as a citizen.

(c)	You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws on military service.

(d)	You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

2. Specific conditions

2.1.

Diploma

Either (a)

—	Post-secondary education attested by a diploma;

or (b):

—

Secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to higher education, followed by at least three years' professional experience relevant to the nature of the duties. These three years of professional experience cannot be counted towards the professional experience required under point 2.2 below.

2.2.

Professional experience

At least three years' professional experience in the field. You must have gained this experience:

Either (a)

—	since obtaining the qualification required under 2.1(a);

or (b):

—	since obtaining the qualification and professional experience required under 2.1(b).

2.3.

Knowledge of languages

(a)	Language 1

Main language:

a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union: (BG) Bulgarian, (CS) Czech, (DA) Danish, (DE) German, (EL) Greek, (EN) English, (ES) Spanish, (ET) Estonian, (FI) Finnish, (FR) French, (GA) Irish, (HU) Hungarian, (IT) Italian, (LT) Lithuanian, (LV) Latvian, (MT) Maltese, (NL) Dutch, (PL) Polish, (PT) Portuguese, (RO) Romanian, (SK) Slovak, (SL) Slovenian or (SV) Swedish;

and

(b)	Language 2

Second language (must be different from your main language):

a satisfactory knowledge of English, French or German.

IV. ADMISSION TESTS

A.	Candidates invited

Candidates who, when submitting their on-line application, have declared that they meet the general and specific conditions listed in section III.

Tests

Test (a)

Test (b)

Nature

A series of multiple-choice questions to assess your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions, and its policies.

A series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your verbal and numerical reasoning skills.

Language

Language 2

Marking

0-10

No penalty for incorrect answers

0-10

No penalty for incorrect answers

Pass mark

5.	Time allowed

+/- 20 min

+/- 50 min

V. OPEN COMPETITION

V.1 Written test

A.	Candidates invited

The candidates who obtain the highest aggregate marks in the admission tests and a pass mark in each (2) (for numbers, see below) and who, in the light of the information given in their on-line application, meet the general and specific conditions listed in section III.

EPSO/AST/91/09 = 30

EPSO/AST/92/09 = 126

Tests

1.	Nature, marking and time allowed

(a)	A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your specific knowledge in the field of the competition. 0–40 (pass mark: 20) Time allowed (indicative figure): 1 hour.

(b)

A test on a subject of your choice in the field of the competition, designed to test:

—	your specialist knowledge;

—	your ability to understand, analyse and summarise; and

—	your drafting ability.

0–40 (pass mark: 20)

Time allowed (indicative figure): 2 hours.

(c)	Drafting a brief memo in your main language setting out the arguments and conclusions of written test (b). This is designed to test your command of your main language in terms of both drafting and presentation.

0–10 (pass mark: 8)

Time allowed (indicative figure): 30 minutes

Language

Written tests (a) and (b): language 2

Written test (c): language 1

V.2 Oral test

A.	Candidates admitted

The candidates who obtain the highest aggregate marks in the written tests and a pass mark in each (2) (for numbers, see below) and who, in the light of the supporting documents included in their full application file, fulfil the general and specific conditions listed in section III.

EPSO/AST/91/09 = 10

EPSO/AST/92/09 = 42

Test

1.	Nature, marking and time allowed

Interview with the selection board to enable it to complete its assessment of:

—	your suitability to perform the duties described in section II;

—	your specialist knowledge in the field of the competition;

—	your knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and its policies;

—	your motivation and your ability to adjust to working as a European civil servant in a multicultural environment.

0–50 (pass mark: 25)

Time allowed: +/- 30 minutes

Language

The interview will take place in your second language but your knowledge of your first language will also be assessed.

Place

The oral test will normally be held in Brussels.

VI. RESERVE LISTS

1.	Candidates included

The selection board will place on the reserve lists the names of the candidates with the highest aggregate marks in the written and oral tests and a pass mark in each (see section I, point 1).

2.	Classification

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

VII. HOW TO APPLY

1.	On-line application

You must apply on-line, following the procedure explained on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office.

Deadline: 21 April 2009 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time

2.	Submitting your complete application file

If you are selected under section V.1.A, you will be invited, via your EPSO account, to print out your on-line application form and send it together with the relevant supporting documents to the following address:

European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)

C 80

Open competition EPSO/AST/…/09 (indicate the number of the competition chosen)

1049 Brussels

BELGIUM

Procedure: see point 2. 4 of the general rules governing open competitions.

Deadline: You will be informed of the deadline via your EPSO account, in the letter inviting you to submit your application.

(1) Any reference in this notice to a person of the male sex shall be deemed also to constitute a reference to a person of the female sex.

(2) Where a number of candidates tie for the last available place, they will all be taken into consideration by the selection board.

		ISSN 1725-2423
Official Journal of the European Union		C 63A

English edition	Information and Notices	Volume 52 18 March 2009

Notice No	Contents	page
	V Announcements
	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
	European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)
2009/C 063A/01	Notice of open competitions EPSO/AST/91/09 — ASSISTANTS () (AST 3) IN THE OFFSET PRINTING FIELD EPSO/AST/92/09 — ASSISTANTS () (AST 3) IN THE PRE-PRESS FIELD	1