European Ombudsman, special report: secrecy in the Commission's recruitment procedures

The Parliament voted to approve the resolution drafted by Mr Herbert BOSCH (PES, A) which relates to the special report of the European Ombudsman regarding recruitment procedures to the Commission after he had conducted on his own initiative and enquiry into the issue. The Parliament congratulates the Commission on its positive response to the recommendations of the Ombudsman with regard to the recruitment procedures. It points out that the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market has endorsed the Ombudsman's view that the candidates in Community recruitment procedures are entitled to see their marked examination scripts. An amendment that was adopted stresses that the principle of transparency should apply throughout the selection procedure and that candidates should be given full notification, promptly and in an appropriate form, of the evaluation criteria. They should also be informed of the possbility of approaching the European Ombudsman in the event of an appeal. Candidates completing a multiple-choice test should take the text of the questions with them when they leave the examination room unless the contents are protected by copyright. The answers should also be made available to the candidates. Finally, posts for temporary and auxiliary officials within the EU institutions should be published in the press and on the Internet to guarantee the same transparency as applies for permanent posts. COS002048 17/11/00 APE EN The Parliament voted to approve the resolution drafted by Mr Herbert BOSCH (PES, A) which relates to the special report of the European Ombudsman regarding recruitment procedures to the Commission after he had conducted on his own initiative and enquiry into the issue. The Parliament congratulates the Commission on its positive response to the recommendations of the Ombudsman with regard to the recruitment procedures. It points out that the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market has endorsed the Ombudsman's view that the candidates in Community recruitment procedures are entitled to see their marked examination scripts. An amendment that was adopted stresses that the principle of transparency should apply throughout the selection procedure and that candidates should be given full notification, promptly and in an appropriate form, of the evaluation criteria. They should also be informed of the possbility of approaching the European Ombudsman in the event of an appeal. Candidates completing a multiple-choice test should take the text of the questions with them when they leave the examination room unless the contents are protected by copyright. The answers should also be made available to the candidates. Finally, posts for temporary and auxiliary officials within the EU institutions should be published in the press and on the Internet to guarantee the same transparency as applies for permanent posts. �