The most coveted competition in Europe: more than 5,500 euros per month in Brussels

For weeks, the forums and groups specialized in European oppositions have been fuming. They buzz with advice for passing the tests, with rumors about exam dates, spreadsheets to estimate chances of success, and messages from those who have been waiting for years to take the exam. The reason for so much expectation lies in one figure: more than 174,000 people have applied to participate in the main competition to become an official of the European Union, attracted by an international career, job stability and an entry salary of around 5,500 gross euros per month; an amount that for southern European countries is tremendously attractive. Behind this massive competition, in addition, another less visible battle is being waged: that of the Member States to increase the presence of their nationals in the European administration. The AD5 call, the great gateway to the community civil service for university graduates without experience, has unleashed an unprecedented avalanche that multiplies by three to five times compared to the last comparable generalist oppositions before the pandemic, which used to gather between 30,000 and 60,000 applicants. The prospects for success, however, are very slim. Only 1,490 candidates will be able to enter the reserve list from which the European institutions recruit – from the European Commission to the European Council or the European Parliament – and which does not directly guarantee a place. Many of the applicants had been waiting for years. “It is a super competitive competition, but it is very worth it because the conditions and the projection are very good,” summarizes Alessandra, a candidate from Italy who has been waiting five years to take the tests that will be held in the fall. Exams that are not like traditional national competitions, with a syllabus, but rather consist fundamentally of verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests, along with skills and writing exercises to measure analytical skills, problem-solving capacity and professional aptitudes. The last major general competition was held in 2019. And since then, a drought has developed driven by the Covid pandemic and a collapse of the technical system that forced the suspension of the exams in 2023; in addition to the reform of the selection process. All of this has fueled the frustration of a generation of candidates who saw the main access route to Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg, the three headquarters of the EU, closed. The magnitude of the competition has surprised even within the European institutions, according to several sources in Brussels. At a time when many European administrations compete with the private sector to attract specialized talent, the EU has just proven that it remains a powerful employer brand. Although the data also speaks of a generation that seeks stability in an increasingly uncertain labor market, says András Baneth, co-founder of EU Training and author of one of the most used preparation guides for EU competitions. Behind this wave of figures, there is another key variable. The governments of several Member States have been trying for years to increase the presence of their citizens in the community institutions, convinced that influence in Brussels is not only played in the summits of heads of state or in political negotiations, but also in the offices where rules are written, markets are supervised and billions of euros are managed. «Many governments consider that the presence of nationals in the European institutions is a strategic issue. One can talk about influence, but also about the perspectives and sensitivities that the officials of each country bring to the table. decision-making,” says Baneth. Thus, several governments finance promotional activities, seminars and support programs to increase the number of nationals working in community institutions. «Some seek to increase their presence in the institutions; others, such as several Nordic countries, try to ensure that the few candidates that present themselves – for them the salary is not so competitive – have a better chance of success,» says the EU personnel selection expert. The European Commission recognizes that the origin of officials is not homogeneous and that some Member States, such as Germany, the Netherlands or those in northern Europe, are underrepresented in the European institutions. This unequal distribution is not explained only by the size of the countries, the European tradition or the capacity of their educational systems to prepare competitive candidates. The salary factor also plays a role: for southern countries – Italy, for example, has a huge number of exam candidates, according to several sources – the working conditions offered by the EU institutions are much more attractive than those in their national markets. Brussels is trying to correct this imbalance with specific campaigns and strengthening cooperation with the Administrations. Thus, the European Union’s opposition is more than just an entrance exam to the public service. It is a thermometer of the attractiveness of the European project at a time of global competition for qualified talent and a reflection of the internal tensions between Member States to occupy space in the administrative heart of Brussels. You can consult other letters in this section here.