2004 enlargement: accession to the Union, recruitment of officials

PURPOSE : to introduce special temporary measures for the recruitment of officials from the candidate countries for the EU institutions. LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation 401/2004/EC, Euratom introducing, on the occasion of the accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, special temporary measures for recruitment of officials of the European Communities. CONTENT : the Council adopted a Regulation introducing temporary measures for the recruitment of European Union officials upon accession to the EU of the ten new Member States on 1 May 2004. On the occasion of the forthcoming accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia special temporary measures should be adopted that depart from the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities. Given the number of countries acceding and the number of persons potentially involved these, albeit temporary measures, should remain in force for a substantial period. 31 December 2010 appears to be the most suitable expiry date for them. Given the exceptional nature of the situation, and the forecasted future general needs, competitions should also be held for the recruitment of officials having one of the existing 11 official languages as their main language. This will be in order to ensure respect for the principles stated in Article 27 of the Staff Regulations, including recruitment on the broadest possible geographical basis. Moreover, given the exceptional size of the impending accession, this Regulation should be adopted before the actual accession date so that all the necessary preparatory work can be done to enable the planned recruitments to take place as soon as possible after the accession. The Regulation stipulates that all appointments shall be made for all grades, after the actual date of accession except for grades A1 and A2, following competitions on the basis of both qualifications and tests organised as specified in Annex III to the Staff Regulations. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 08/03/2004.�