Recruiting for the EU: Auditors to check the cost-effectiveness of the European Personnel Selection Office’s selection process - Main contents

The European Court of Auditors i is conducting an audit to establish whether the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) meets the EU i institutions’ recruitment needs in a cost-effective manner. In particular, the auditors will analyse whether EPSO’s selection process yields enough successful candidates and whether the cost of EPSO’s selection process is proportionate to the institutions’ recruitment needs.

The European Personnel Selection Office is the interinstitutional body that organises competitions for permanent staff and selection procedures for contract staff. Successful candidates (“laureates”) are placed on reserve lists, from which EU institutions can recruit new staff members. EPSO was set up in 2002 to centralise the selection process achieving economies of scale and has performed its role since 2003.

“The European Personnel Selection Office is the gateway to working for the EU”, said Annemie Turtelboom, the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the audit. “It is not only the face of the EU towards candidates, but also the body that ensures that the EU Institutions can recruit the best person for the right job at the right time. Therefore, it is essential that the staff selection process is adequately planned and well-designed.”

Press release: Recruiting for the EU: Auditors to check the cost-effectiveness of the European Personnel Selection Office’s selection process