EU public administrator, lawyer, economist, external relations officer etc.
Permanent officials of the EU Civil Service are divided into different functional groups and must pass a recruitment competition. Administrators (AD) make up one of these groups.
AD level officials are engaged in drafting policies, implementing EU legislation, analysing and advising, dealing with stakholders, regulatory tasks and much more. They could be a trade expert, a lawyer dealing with competition cases or an auditor checking on the EU budget.
EPSO AD selection competitions are advertised from grades AD5 to AD16
- AD5 is an entry level Generalist role ideal for university graduates.
- AD6 and AD7 are Specialist roles and require several years of relevant experience.
- AD9 through AD12 are also Specialists, but middle management level roles and require previous management experience.
Anyone who meets the general eligibility criteria and has a bachelor’s degree can apply for the EPSO AD selection competitions. AD Generalist competitions are usually announced annually. AD Specialist competitions are announced when staff recruitment needs arise.
To apply for an Administrator competition applicants must have a college or university diploma issued on the basis of minimum 3 years of study. Additional qualifications and education requirements may also be needed depending on the AD competition’s grade.
Every EPSO competition starts with a Notice of Competition being published in the Official Journal of the EU. The Notice of Competition is the official and authentic document in which the details and conditions of that specific competition are outlined: such as the exams to be undertaken, the number of people EPSO plans to place on the reserve lists, the language requirements, the application due date etc. Make sure you consult each AD competition’s Notice of Competition for the full details.
In addition to the specific requirements for any given competition, to become an EU official applicants must also meet some basic eligibility criteria. To be eligible, applicants must:
- have EU citizenship. Applicants must be a citizen of one of the EU's 27 Member States.
- have fulfilled any military service requirements.
- meet the character requirements
- have knowledge of any of the 24 official EU languages
Getting a job at an EU institution is no easy task, but working in EU affairs is a great career choice. Find out every-thing you need to know about EU careers from EU Training, the leader in EU selection preparation and advice.
We offer a wealth of practice materials for all stages and levels of the EPSO selection exams, as well as an online community to share ideas and experiences, FREE e-books, helpful tips & tricks articles, e-learning materials and free guidance to help EPSO candidates excel. If at any point you have a question or need additional help to understand the EPSO processes, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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