The hiring competition — aimed at generalists rather than specialists in areas such as HR, law and translation — has not been held since 2019, meaning many aspiring officials have been working as temporary agents or agency staff, without the job security or benefits of those employed by the EU.
A number of countries launched campaigns to try and encourage their citizens to apply, eyeing an opportunity to correct underrepresentation inside the EU and cement their influence for decades to come. Some capitals have even gone as far as paying for test practices and offering mentoring to candidates.
Just 22,644 people applied for the AD-5 competition when it was last held seven years ago, and around 50,000 had been initially forecast to take part this year.
This year’s EPSO tests, to be scheduled on a date that is yet to be announced, will be conducted virtually rather than in assessment centers, as was the case in the past. However, experts say the logistics of administering the exams on such a large scale would be challenging even with half as many applicants.