POSITIVE ACTION PROGRAMME 2024
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Introduction
For the 10th consecutive year, the European Parliament is launching the Positive Action Programme (PAP) (2024 edition), an additional pathway designed to facilitate the employment of persons with a disability as contract agents. This initiative offers candidates with a disability the opportunity to work for the EU’s only directly elected institution, and it allows Parliament to ensure a diverse talent pool by attracting competent candidates.
The PAP procedure consists of establishing a pool list of 20 suitable candidates for potential recruitment as contract agents (on the basis of Article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union) in function groups II, III or IV by the Secretariat’s Directorates-General (DGs). Through this programme, Parliament annually recruits up to six successful candidates, who receive one-year contracts (with the possibility of renewal). The remaining successful candidates will be included on a pool list for a period of 18 months, with the possibility of recruitment by Parliament DGs, outside the framework of the PAP.
Eligibility criteria
On the closing date for applications, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
(a) General criteria
(1) Have a disability that causes impairment equal to or greater than 20 %, according to the European Physical and Mental Disability Rating Scale
(2) Enjoy full rights as a citizen of an EU Member State;
(3) Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service;
(4) Be able to produce the appropriate character references concerning your suitability for the performance of your duties;
(5) Demonstrate a minimum of level C1 (‘thorough knowledge’) in one of the 24 official EU languages (language 1); demonstrate a minimum of level B2 (‘satisfactory knowledge’) in another EU language (language 2), based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The official languages of the European Union are: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.
You will take the multiple choice question (MCQ) test in your language 1. The recruiting services will test your knowledge of the second language at the interview phase, if your name is included on the pool list and you are invited for an interview by a DG.
By applying to this programme, you specifically declare that you meet the criterion (a)(1) above. Providing false information in relation to this eligibility criterion will lead to the immediate cancellation of your application and your exclusion from the programme.
(b) Qualifications
You must also have:
For function groups II (Clerical and Secretarial) and III (Assistants):
- a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma; or
- a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, and appropriate professional experience of at least three years;
- or, where justified in the interest of the service, professional training or professional experience of an equivalent level.
For function group IV (Administrators):
- a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;
- or, where justified in the interest of the service, professional training of an equivalent level.
Diplomas, whether issued in a Member State or in a non-EU country, must be recognised by an official body of an EU Member State, such as the ministry of education.
If you possess diplomas issued from a non-EU country, you must provide an EU-equivalence statement for these diplomas. You can find further information on the recognition of non-EU qualifications through the ENIC-NARIC networks (https://www.enic-naric.net).
The selection panel will take into account the differences between education systems. The table in the Guide for Candidates provides examples of the minimum qualifications required.
(c) Professional experience
The programme is only open to individuals who have never previously worked for an EU institution, agency or body (for the purpose of this programme, EU traineeships and interim contracts do not count as prior work experience for an EU institution).
Selection and Recruitment process
(1) Selection process
The European Parliament will invite you to sit a computer-based multiple choice question (MCQ) test, consisting of a maximum of 30 questions that pertain to the following fields: EU knowledge, verbal reasoning and situational judgement.
If you require reasonable accommodation during the test, you can submit a request by using the form provided. You should attach a recent certificate from your national authority or a recent medical certificate to the request form. It should contain your personal diagnosis and clearly explain or confirm your situation or condition, as recognised by your national health system. If applicable, it should include the percentage of your (physical or mental) impairment. The completed form and all supporting documents must be emailed to the European Parliament’s Medical Service by the application deadline (for more information see the ‘How to apply’ section of the PAP guide). You should not send this information to the Talent Selection and Outreach Unit.
The European Parliament works with a service provider (TestWe) to run the online tests. Please be aware that TestWe is unfortunately not digitally accessible. In the event of a problem during testing, you may need to contact the service provider’s helpline by phone. Alternative arrangements will be made if you have specific needs (e.g. if you have a visual or hearing impairment or a speech and/or language disorder), after the Medical Service approves your request. Successful candidates (those who have reached the 50 % pass mark in the MCQ test and whose score places them within the top 20 candidates) will form the initial pool list; this list will also include all candidates who are tied for the final place. The selection panel will then evaluate these candidates to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria (b) and (c) mentioned above.
The selection panel will assess each candidate’s application file in descending order of the points obtained in the MCQ test. The selection panel will stop the assessment process once the maximum number of suitable candidates has been reached. The selection panel will place any candidates tied for the final qualifying spot on the list.
At this stage, you will also be required to undergo Parliament’s disability recognition process. To attest to your disability, you must have a medical doctor (either an appropriate specialist or your general practitioner) fill out the form provided by Parliament’s Medical Service. You can also provide a national disability card as proof to support your application. You should have this information ready at short notice in order for the Medical Service to process this after the MCQ test. Please note that this process is different from the evaluation of your reasonable accommodation request outlined above.
(2) Recruitment
Once the list of 20 suitable candidates is finalised, their CVs will be circulated to all of the DGs’ human resources services. Among these candidates, up to six will be recruited under the PAP, while the remaining candidates may be considered for recruitment as contract agents by the DGs, outside the framework of the PAP.
If a DG finds your profile interesting, they may call you for an interview.
It is important to note that being included in the pool list or passing the selection test does not confer any right of recruitment. Recruiting services may refer to the list when contract positions became available by inviting candidates whose profiles align with the job requirements for an interview. This process aims to create opportunities both under and outside the framework of the PAP.
How to apply?
Please apply through the Apply4EP platform by the deadline at 17:00 on 18 March 2024 (Brussels/Luxembourg time).
You must carefully read the Guide for Candidates that is annexed to this notice before you complete your application.
(1) You must complete the application form and provide the following relevant supporting documents through the Apply4EP platform:
- Your CV;
- Diploma(s) proving your level of education;
- Proof of previous work experience (if you have any experience);
Please also remember to click, if relevant, the checkbox on Apply4EP stating that you require reasonable accommodation for testing.
(2) You must email the reasonable accommodation form (a blank version of which is attached to the notice under ‘Annex I’) by the application deadline to the medical service at the following address:
PERS-CabmedbruDisability@europarl.europa.eu
Please attach the appropriate medical documentation to support your reasonable accommodation request (medical certificates, doctor’s notes, proof of previous reasonable accommodations, such as any exam accommodations granted previously over the course of your education, etc.) by the application deadline.
Please use the following wording in the email subject line:
‘DG PERS 2024 Positive Action Programme/RA Testing Justification Note’.
Please note that reasonable accommodations for the workplace will be offered to recruited candidates at a later stage.
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