The decision announced on Tuesday by the European Commission leaves 50,000 people waiting. “We cannot take the risk of failing again”

The long-awaited admission exam in the EU's public administration has been postponed once more, leaving tens of thousands of people hoping for a life post in the European Commission, writes the website eurative.com.

On Tuesday, the European Staff Selection Office (EPSO) announced that registration for a test for candidates who do not have previous work experience for the European Commission will not take place in July, as provided.

Several Diplomats and EU officials asked by EURActiv have estimated that about 50,000 people are waiting to take the exam, which will lead to about 1,000 people on a list of candidates who can then apply for jobs.

“We hope to be able to publish it immediately after the summer, we hope, so that the testing can take place a few months after publication,” said Olivier Salles, the new EPSO chief.

“It is a slightly difficult situation for me,” he added. “We cannot assume [riscul] to fail again. “

Frustration in groups

The Facebook groups dedicated to the exam were flooded with comments of the frustrated candidates. “Everything has returned to the old bad days of dubious connections, mistresses and practices […]? ”, A person with an anonymous account asked, Eurativ reports.

“It is better to postpone it than to face another disastrous testing experience,” wrote another.

The laborious entrance system in the EU is full of technical problems and computer failures, which have caused numerous delays. The last exam of this type took place in 2019, and the new exam was initially planned for 2023, writes the cited publication.

The general examination is addressed to the professionals who are at the beginning of the career. The declared candidates admitted are registered on a list of candidates who can run for positions within the EU executive.

Since EPSO has decided to give up testing in person in favor of an exclusive online system in 2023, it has been affected by a number of technical difficulties.

What problems were they

In 2023, an exam for financial administrators was canceled due to online testing issues. Earlier this year, almost 10,000 candidates for EU translators were forced to resume their exam after it was found that the online test allowed multiple responses when only one was correct.

In a statement, EPSO acknowledged disappointment, stating that he is “aware that this contest is eagerly awaited as a way to a career in the EU and the disappointment that this news can generate.”