Against the background of the 2016 Talent Management Strategy and the Commission Report on geographical balance, and as part of the response to improving attractiveness, modernising and diversifying selection and recruitment, the Commission decided to develop the Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) focused on recent graduates.
The JPP aims at better retaining and developing new resources from the Commission’s known talent pool (bluebooks, contract agents, etc...). During the selection process, the candidates must demonstrate why the Commission should offer them an AD5 position and what is their added value for the institution. The final test - which can be seen as an “assessment centre light” - consists of a structured presentation on a subject related to the European Union Institutions and an interview.
In 2020 the Junior Professional Program became established on a lasting basis.