EN Official Journal of the European Union

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23 C 104 A/23 III (Notices) EUROPEAN PERSONNEL SELECTION OFFICE (EPSO) NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITIONS (2004/C 104 A/01) The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is organising the following open competitions, based on tests, to constitute a reserve pool from which to recruit EPSO/A/20/04 EPSO/A/21/04 HEADS OF UNIT ( 1 ) (A 5/A 4 A* 9) ( 2 ) HEADS OF UNIT ( 1 ) (A 3 A* 12) ( 2 ) of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovenian and Slovakian citizenship in the following fields: law, macro/microeconomics/statistics, auditing/ financial management, European public administration. CONTENTS A. DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE OF CANDIDATES) B. SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION C. HOW TO APPLY D. GENERAL INFORMATION ANNEX: Requests for review appeal procedures complaints to the European Ombudsman The European institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political, philosophical or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation. ( 1 ) Successful candidates from this competition might be offered a job as a certified auditor or head of an audit team in the Court of Auditors. ( 2 ) The Council has adopted new staff regulations involving a new career structure. If you pass this competition you might therefore be recruited on the basis of the new staff regulations, in accordance with the arrangements set out, in particular, in Article 12 of Section 2 of Annex XIII of the new staff regulations (see the IntraComm website:

24 C 104 A/24 EN Official Journal of the European Union A. DUTIES AND ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE OF CANDIDATES) Competitions EPSO/A/20/04 and EPSO/A/21/04 are being organised to recruit heads of unit (A 5/A 4 A* 9 and A 3 A* 12) of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovenian and Slovakian citizenship in the following fields: 1. Law 2. Macro/microeconomics/statistics 3. Auditing/financial management 4. European public administration The purpose of these competitions is to draw up reserve lists from which to fill vacant posts in the institutions of the European Union. Number of successful candidates ( 3 ) by competition and field: EPSO/A/20/04 (A 5/A 4 A* 9) Field 1 Law: 20 Field 2 Macro/microeconomics/statistics: 15 Field 3 Auditing/financial management: 40 Field 4 European public administration: 15 EPSO/A/21/04 (A 3 A* 12) Field 1 Law: 15 Field 2 Macro/microeconomics/statistics: 10 Field 3 Auditing/financial management: 5 Field 4 European public administration: 20 The European Personnel Selection Office is holding the following open competitions in parallel: EPSO/A/20/04 (A 5/A 4 A* 9) and EPSO/A/21/04 (A 3 A* 12) for heads of unit of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovenian and Slovakian citizenship in the following fields: law, macro/microeconomics/statistics, audit/ financial management, European public administration. EPSO/A/22/04 (A 5/A 4 A* 9) and EPSO/A/23/04 (A 3 A* 12) for heads of unit of Cypriot, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovenian and Slovakian citizenship in the field of information, press and public relations. You may apply for one competition only, and one field only within that competition, failing which you will be disqualified. Please indicate your choice on the online registration form. To ensure that all general texts relating to the competition and all communication between applicants and EPSO are clearly understood on both sides, the competition notices are being published solely in English, French and German. These three languages will also be used for the invitations to the various tests and correspondence between EPSO and applicants. The language you choose for the pre-selection tests will be the language used for communicating with you. ( 3 ) An information note detailing the needs of the Institutions for the different fields can be found on the EPSO website:

25 C 104 A/25 I. DUTIES In all domains, the principal duties will comprise management tasks at Head of Unit level under the direct authority of a Director General or Director. These fall broadly under three headings, notably: Managing tasks and meeting objectives: Participating in the elaboration of the Directorate/Directorate General strategies and procedures. Defining the unit s strategic objectives and agreeing its operational work programme. Establishing and following up the unit s organisation and ensuring effective distribution of duties and responsibilities to unit staff in order to achieve the expected results. Analysing and optimising the procedures and the workflow of the unit in order to achieve the expected results. Evaluating the accomplishment of objectives using relevant indicators and providing management reports on the results achieved. Verifying that decisions and operations conform to official regulations and procedures. Managing people and resources: Ensuring effective people management within the unit in accordance with the institution s human resources policy. This involves inter alia defining job descriptions, evaluating performance and reviewing individual objectives and training plans as well as approving, authorising and giving opinions on issues related to personnel administration, such as leave and part-time work schedules. Creating and nurturing high performance teams. Developing a true team working attitude within the unit, by building and strengthening the sense of working together in view of common goals. Being aware of possible areas of tension within the unit and taking personal responsibility to resolve conflicts. Developing the effectiveness and the work quality of the team, by leveraging on the individual skills of the members and acting as a coach. Establishing budget requirements and managing annual budgetary resources allocated to the unit. Supervising and controlling financial transactions relating to the work program of the unit. Verifying and validating financial and budgetary aspects of programs/projects carried out under the unit s responsibility. Managing relationships communication, coordination, consultation, representation and negotiation: Building and maintaining interactive communication within the team, so that staff are well-informed of relevant policy and strategic aspects and get appropriate feedback on their actions. Contributing to internal communication and knowledge sharing within the Directorate General and with other services within the institutions. Providing regular reports and advice on legal and or policy developments and on the outcomes of discussions and negotiations.

26 C 104 A/26 EN Official Journal of the European Union Consulting, coordinating and/or negotiating with other services on issues of relevance to the unit s work. Representing the unit or service on relevant advisory, management or regulatory committees, working groups or other ad-hoc bodies. Representing the service vis-à-vis representatives of the Member States and other countries, or international public and private organisations, on issues of relevance to the unit s work. Negotiating on behalf of the institutions with Member States, third countries, or international public and private organisations. The institutions place particular importance on the ability of candidates to grasp problems of all kinds, often complex in nature, to react rapidly to changing circumstances and to communicate effectively. You will have to show initiative and imagination and be highly motivated. You should be able to work frequently under pressure, both on your own and in a team, and to adjust to a multicultural working environment. You must be prepared to develop your professional skills throughout your career. In addition to the principal task of management, candidates should note the specific duties related to each domain of this competition which may include, inter alia: Field 1: Law Devising, drafting and analysing Community legislation and EU legislation on police and judicial cooperation, providing legal advice to the institutions and its bodies on specific issues and community policies, carrying out research into legal issues of a national, Community and international nature, taking part in the negotiation of international agreements, studying cases and drafting decisions, for example in the area of competition law, controlling the implementation and application of community law through contacts with Member State s administrations and investigating alleged infringements of Community law, various tasks related to court proceedings, preparing positions and representing the institutions in court proceedings, mainly before the Court of Justice or the Court of First Instance, lawyer functions in the secretariats of the Court of Justice or the Court of First Instance, undertaking, on the basis of general directives, tasks including drafting, studying cases or legislation or monitoring policy in one or several areas of activity of the European Institutions (inter alia: consumer affairs, transport, telecommunications, social affairs, home affairs, external affairs) as well as within the areas of international law and administration, giving advice and opinions, both written and verbal, to the bodies and instances of the institutions. Field 2: Macro/microeconomics/statistics Ongoing evaluation of Member States economic, budgetary, monetary and financial policies, analysing Member States economies and developing the Community s financial instruments, analysing the economies of non-community countries,

27 C 104 A/27 economic forecasting, planning and implementing Community technical assistance, analysing and evaluating structural, sectoral and regional policies, financial analysis of Community projects, analysing the legislative and tax environment for business, providing economic or statistical analysis and advice relevant to Community policies such as competition, trade, industrial affairs, research and development and employment and labour market policy, statistical methodology, applied statistics in economics, social affairs/demography, agronomy/environment, accounting/ finance etc., analysis of demand and utilisation of available data, and project design, definition of aims and coordination of the compilation and aggregation of statistical data, and management of operational systems, harmonisation of the compilation of statistics and development of procedures for compiling, processing, validating and analysing statistics, statistical models and statistics in the economics field. Field 3: Auditing/financial management In the case of the Court of Auditors, appointments will be of certified auditors who will lead teams, with subsequent possible appointment to Head of Unit. examining whether resources are being used efficiently and economically and achieving effective results, examining operations to check whether the results are consistent with the goals and objectives and that activities are carried out as planned, assessing and managing the risks associated with Community funds allocated to or collected by the various European institutions and bodies, their partners, intermediaries and the ultimate beneficiaries/ debtors, evaluating and testing the effectiveness of internal control systems within the institutions and in bodies which are managing or benefiting from Community funding or identifying and collecting Community revenue, examining the reliability and integrity of information systems, examining the measures taken to safeguard assets, examining the legality and correctness of budgetary and financial operations, auditing financial statements for reliability, assessing the systems by which organisations are directed and controlled, supervising the operation of accounting and financial systems and procedures, supervising the presentation of financial statements,

28 C 104 A/28 EN Official Journal of the European Union monitoring debts and recovery procedures, supervising accounting methods and the financial management of revenue, supervising the financial aspects in programme preparation, operational programming and its follow-up, drawing up calls for proposals/invitations to tender/calls for expressions of interest with a view to concluding contracts and agreements relating to grants, monitoring selection procedures and the allocation of proposals, supervising the terms of reference for contracts and agreements, assisting operational units (including delegations). Field 4: European public administration Leading a unit responsible for drafting, studying or monitoring policy in one or more of the institution s fields of activity (including consumer affairs, transport, telecommunications, social affairs, home affairs, external affairs, etc.), coordinating the preparation of work of different working parties at all levels and providing followup, devising new approaches or measures by carrying out analyses and specialist studies, preparing and attending political dialogue meetings, maintaining contacts and coordinating with the institution s other directorates or with the other European institutions, Member States or international organisations. II. ELIGIBILITY (PROFILE SOUGHT) You may apply for this competition if, on the closing date for registration (see last section C), you meet the following requirements: 1. Certificates and diplomas Field 1: Law You must have successfully completed: either a full course in law at university level and obtained a degree, or a full course at university level and obtained a degree and a post-graduate course in law and obtained a qualification.

29 C 104 A/29 Field 2: Macro/microeconomics/statistics You must have successfully completed: either a full course in micro/macroeconomics/statistics at university level and/or business studies and obtained a degree, or a full course at university level and obtained a degree and a post-graduate course in economics and/or statistics or Masters of Business Administration and obtained a qualification. Field 3: Auditing/financial management You must have completed a course at university level and obtained a degree relevant to the described duties or have obtained a professional qualification of equivalent level relevant to those duties. If your degree is not in a field relevant to the duties concerned, you must have an additional qualification which is relevant. Field 4: European public administration You must have successfully completed: a full course at university level and obtained a degree in political science and/or law and/or economics and/or business studies; or a full course at university level and obtained a degree and a post-graduate course in political science and/or law and/or economics and/or a Masters of Business Administration and obtained a qualification and/or a doctorate. The selection board will allow for differences between education systems. As a general guide, see the examples of the minimum qualifications required in the tables annexed to the Guide (see EPSO s website ( 4 )). 2. Professional experience EPSO/A/20/04 (A 5/A 4 A* 9) EPSO/A/21/04 (A 3 A* 12) Since obtaining the qualification required for admission to the competition, you must have gained at least 10 years full-time professional experience relevant to the duties concerned, of which 5 must have been in management pos- itions. Since obtaining the qualification required for admission to the competition, you must have gained at least 10 years full-time professional experience relevant to the duties concerned, of which 3 must have been in management positions. 3. Knowledge of languages You must have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the new Member States language 1 (Greek, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Polish, Slovene, Slovak) and a satisfactory knowledge language 2 of one of the following languages: English, French or German. ( 4 )

30 C 104 A/30 EN Official Journal of the European Union Please give details of which languages you know on the online registration form ( 5 ). After the closing date for registration, you may not change the languages in which you have specified that you wish to take the tests. 4. General terms and conditions You must be a citizen of one of the new Member States (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia). You must be entitled to your full rights as a citizen. You must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service. You must meet the character requirements for the duties involved. ( 5 ) For practical reasons this form is available only in English, French and German.

31 C 104 A/31 B. SUCCESSIVE STAGES OF THE COMPETITION 1. Pre-selection tests marking Tests (a) and (b) are to be held in German (DE), English (EN) or French (FR) language 2, as chosen by you and specified in your application. (a) A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your verbal reasoning skills. This test will be marked out of 50. (b) A test comprising a series of multiple-choice questions to assess your general ability, in particular your numerical reasoning skills. This test will be marked out of 50. The pass mark for tests (a) and (b) together is 60 points. Wrong answers in the pre-selection tests will not be penalised. Once the pre-selection tests have been marked, the candidates with the highest marks ( 6 ), per competition and per field, out of all those who obtain the pass mark for all these tests (see table below) will be admitted to the next stage. EPSO/A/20/04 (A 5/A 4 A* 9) EPSO/A/21/04 (A 3 A* 12) Field 1: 30 Field 1: 25 Field 2: 25 Field 2: 15 Field 3: 60 Field 3: 10 Field 4: 25 Field 4: 30 These candidates will be asked to submit a full application with a view to their possible admission to the competition (see section C.3 scrutiny of applications). 2. Oral test marking (a) Prior to the interview with the selection board, those candidates who are admitted to the next stage of the competition will be invited to attend an assessment centre. The tests will run in English, German and French only. For organisational reasons, the assessment centre tests and the interview will be held on consecutive days in Brussels. The results of these tests will be sent to the Selection Board as expert, technical input to their decision process. At the assessment centre, the tests may include: a written exercise in which candidates will have to process documents, an exercise to assess management ability, a competency-based interview by a human resources expert. ( 6 ) Candidates with identical marks qualifying them for the last place will all be admitted to the next stage of the competition.

32 C 104 A/32 EN Official Journal of the European Union (b) On the day following the passage at the assessment centre, the candidate will be invited to an interview with the Selection Board. The purpose of the interview is to enable the Selection Board to assess: his/her professional experience and skills in organising and coordinating the work of an administrative unit and his/her ability to adapt, negotiate, take decisions and generally perform the duties of a head of unit, his/her general knowledge, his/her knowledge of languages [1 and 2], the main developments in European integration and the different Community policies will also be tested. For candidates of field 3 auditing/financial management, this test will take into consideration, in the same way as the other elements examined in the course of this oral test, a written part in connection with the field. For organisational reasons, this written part will take place on the same day as the preselection tests. It will only be taken into account for those candidates admitted to the oral test. The oral test will be marked out of 100 (pass mark 60). 3. Dates and time allowed for the tests The pre-selection tests will be held simultaneously for all candidates in the new Member States (see the list of cities on our website). It is not, therefore, possible to change the dates which will be scheduled by the European Personnel Selection Office at the candidate s request. The time allowed for the pre-selection and other tests will be decided by the selection board; you will be notified of this when you receive your invitation to the tests (via the EPSO file). 4. Reserve lists At the end of the competitions, out of all the candidates who obtain the highest marks ( 6 ) in the oral test (as well as the pass mark), the selection board will draw up lists of the successful candidates in each competition and field, divided into merit classes (no more than two groups) and sorted in alphabetical order (see section A for number of successful candidates). You will be informed of the selection board s decisions concerning you. The lists will be valid until 31 December 2005 and may be extended. They will be published ( 7 ) in the Official Journal of the European Union. ( 7 ) A successful candidate may explicitly request that his/her name not be published.

33 C 104 A/33 C. HOW TO APPLY Please refer to the Guide for Candidates, which can be found on EPSO s website ( 4 ) and contains detailed instructions to help you submit your application correctly. Online registration form Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria (see section A, particularly concerning the types of diploma and professional experience required). If you want to apply, you must register via the Internet by going to the EPSO website ( 4 ) and following the instructions there concerning the various stages of the procedure. It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time ( 8 ). We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy Internet traffic or a fault with your Internet connection could lead to the online registration being terminated before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process. Once the deadline for the submission of registrations has passed, you will not be able to do so. On completion of your online registration, you will receive on screen a registration number that you must note this will be your reference number in all matters concerning your application. When you receive this number, the registration process is finished it is confirmation that we have registered the data you entered. If you do not receive a number, your application has not been registered! Please note that you must have an address. This will be used to identify your registration. The information you must enter in your registration includes the languages you choose (see A.II.3), and the particulars of your qualifications (title, name of issuing establishment and date obtained). Once registered, you can consult the EPSO website ( 4 ) ( Competitions Ongoing competitions ) to follow the progress of the competition and check the test dates and locations. If you have a disability that prevents you from registering online, you may request in writing only a paper version of the form ( 9 ), which you should fill in, sign and return by registered mail, postmarked no later than the closing date for registration. All subsequent communication between EPSO and you will be by post. You must enclose with your registration form a certificate attesting your disability, issued by a recognised body. You should also set out on a separate sheet of paper any special arrangements you think are needed to make it easier for you to take part in the tests. ( 8 ) No later than noon, Brussels time, on 1 June ( 9 ) Write to EPSO Info-recruitment Avenue de Cortenbergh 80 0/48 B-1049 Brussels.

34 C 104 A/34 EN Official Journal of the European Union The closing date for registration is 1 June On-line registration will not be possible after noon Brussels time. 1. Pre-selection tests The candidates who will be invited to the tests are those who are found to meet the general terms and conditions (see A.II.4) after EPSO has carried out a preliminary eligibility check on the basis of the information given in the application forms. 2. Invitation to pre-selection and other tests Information about the invitation to attend the pre-selection tests, the full application form and the invitation to the oral test will be available only on the EPSO website ( 4 ). You can access it using the user name and password you specify when registering. You are responsible for notifying the competition secretariat of any change in your postal or address. You are responsible for keeping track of the progress of the competition, ensuring that for each stage you can access the information relevant to your application by consulting your EPSO file. If you find that you cannot do this, it is your responsibility to notify EPSO by ( 10 ). As far as possible you will be asked to sit the pre-selection tests in the city you choose in the online registration form, from the list on the website. For organisational reasons you will not be able to switch to another venue unless you can prove that you have changed residence. The oral test will be held in Brussels. 3. Full application The candidates who obtain one of the highest overall marks for pre-selection tests (a) and (b) and as well as the pass mark will be asked to print and complete the full application form which they will find in their EPSO file on the website ( 4 ). It must be sent in by the closing date ( 11 ). ( 10 ) Address: epso-a/20/04-en@cec.eu.int and epso-a/21/04-en@cec.eu.int. ( 11 ) The closing date will be indicated in your EPSO file in good time.

35 C 104 A/35 Documents to enclose with the application form Your application must give full details of your citizenship, studies, training, professional experience and any research you have undertaken. You should also enclose on a separate sheet of paper a list of the supporting documents, which should be numbered: (uncertified copies of: a document proving your citizenship, diploma(s), evidence of professional experience clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates and the exact nature of the duties carried out, and exact details of your experience in management posts). In filling in your application form, you may not refer to application forms or other documents submitted with a previous application. None of the documents submitted with your application will be returned. Signing and sending the form It is your responsibility to make sure that your application form, duly completed, signed and accompanied by all the supporting documents, is sent in time ( 11 ) by registered post. The postmark will serve as proof of the date of sending. Scrutiny of applications The selection board will examine the files of the candidates who have obtained both the pass mark and one of the highest scores (see section B.1) in pre-selection tests (a) and (b) to determine whether they meet the conditions laid down in section A.II.1, 2, and 3 of this notice. They will invite the candidates who meet all the conditions laid down in section A.II to the oral test [(a) and (b)]. Should the selection board establish that a candidate does not meet all the conditions for the competition for which he/she has applied but does meet the conditions for the other competition, he/she may be considered as having applied for that competition. You will automatically be disqualified if: you have posted your application after the closing date, you have not completed and/or signed the application form, you do not meet all the eligibility criteria. Important: If you do not give all the required information in your online registration, you will not be invited to sit the pre-selection tests. Similarly, if you are successful in the pre-selection tests and written tests but fail to return the full application form duly completed and signed and accompanied by the requisite supporting documents within the time limit specified ( 11 ), you will not be admitted to the oral test. 4. Reserve lists The candidates who obtain both the pass mark and one of the highest scores (see section B.4) in the oral test will be put on the reserve lists.

36 C 104 A/36 EN Official Journal of the European Union If, at any stage in the procedure, it is established that (i) the information on your electronic registration form or official application form is incorrect or does not tally with the supporting documents or (ii) that you do not meet all the conditions for admission to the competition, you will be disqualified. 6. To facilitate the administration of the competition, in all correspondence you should give your FULL NAME as in your application, THE NUMBER OF THE COMPETITION AND YOUR LANGUAGE 1, TOGETHER WITH THE REFERENCE NUMBER YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOUR ONLINE REGISTRATION IS ACCEPTED.

37 C 104 A/37 D. GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Equal opportunities The European institutions take care to avoid any form of discrimination during the competition procedure. They apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political, philosophical or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation. 2. Selection board A selection board is appointed for each competition. The names of its members will be published on the EPSO website ( 4 ) approximately two weeks before the pre-selection tests. You are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board, either directly or indirectly. Any infringement of this rule will disqualify you from the competition. EPSO is responsible for all communication with candidates until the competition is completed. 3. Approximate timetable The competition will take approximately nine months from start to finish, depending on the number of candidates. Full details are available on the EPSO website ( 4 ). 4. Requests for review appeal procedures complaints to the European Ombudsman See Annex. 5. Recruitment If you are placed on the reserve list you will be eligible for appointment as a probationary official as and when required by the European institutions, in Brussels, Luxembourg or any other place of activity. If you are offered a post, you will be asked to produce the originals of all the requisite documents such as diplomas, so that copies can be authenticated. Recruitment will depend on vacant posts and funds becoming available. Depending on the nature of a post, candidates on the reserve list may initially be offered a temporary contract; in this case, their names will remain on the reserve list.

38 C 104 A/38 EN Official Journal of the European Union You should note that the compulsory retirement age for staff covered by the Staff Regulations or the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Communities is currently 65 years. 7. Category and grade The reserve pool of heads of unit is intended for the career bracket 5/4 (*9) and 3 (*12) of category A. 8. Remuneration Basic monthly salary as at 1 May 2004: grade A* 9, first step: EUR 6 244,87 grade A* 12, first step: EUR 9 045,09

39 C 104 A/39 ANNEX REQUESTS FOR APPLICATIONS TO BE RECONSIDERED APPEAL PROCEDURES COMPLAINTS TO THE EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN If, at any stage of the competition, you consider that your interests have been prejudiced by a particular decision, you can: Request for application to be reconsidered: You can request that your application be reconsidered by sending a letter within 20 days of the date of dispatch of the letter informing you of the decision, setting out the reasons, to: European Personnel Selection Office CORT 80 Competition EPSO/A/20/04 or EPSO/A/21/04 B-1049 Brussels EPSO will forward your request to the Chair of the selection board where it comes within the board s remit. A reply will be sent to you as soon as possible. Appeal: you can bring a case before: The Court of First Instance of the European Communities Boulevard Konrad Adenauer L-2925 Luxembourg under Article 236 of the EC Treaty and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, or you can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, at the following address: European Personnel Selection Office CORT 80 Competition EPSO/A/20/04 or EPSO/A/21/04 B-1049 Brussels The time limits for initiating these two types of procedure (see Staff Regulations published in Official Journal of the European Communities L 56 of 4 March start to run from the time you are notified of the act allegedly prejudicing your interests. Please note that the appointing authority does not have the power to amend the decisions of a selection board. The Court has consistently held that the wide discretion enjoyed by selection boards is not subject to review by the Court unless rules which govern the proceedings of selection boards have clearly been infringed. Complaint to the European Ombudsman: You can, like all citizens of the Union, make a complaint to The European Ombudsman 1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman BP 403 F Strasbourg Cedex (France) under Article 195(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Decision of the European Parliament of 9 March 1994 on the Staff Regulations and the general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman s duties, published in Official Journal of the European Communities L 113 of 4 May Note that complaints made to the Ombudsman have no suspensive effect on the period laid down in Articles 90(2) and 91 of the Staff Regulations for lodging, respectively, a complaint or an appeal with the Court of First Instance under Article 236 of the EC Treaty.