European Parliament Plenary approves EU recruitment reform resolution led by MEP Peter Agius

The European Parliament today approved a resolution penned by Peter Agius on behalf of the EPP group calling for a reform of EU recruitment procedures and the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO).

The vote comes on the back of recent news of the European Commission signalling the lack of geographical balance and representation of Maltese nationals in its ranks in Brussels and multiple complaints from EU recruitment applicants on faulty exam procedures.

Welcoming the overwhelming support of the plenary, MEP Agius stated: “Today we send a clear signal that we want our Union to once again be an example for open and objective recruitment giving every European the chance of joining the EU public service. For this we need an overhaul of the current recruitment systems giving candidates wider testing and language choices, ensuring equal treatment and smooth trouble-free recruitment tests.’’

The vote today concluded months of negotiations aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over the persistent mismanagement of EPSO’s online testing system, which has repeatedly failed to deliver reliable and timely results for applicants sitting for EPSO competitions with testing interrupted half-way, repeated and cancelled exam sessions.

The EP resolution penned by MEP Agius calls for clearer timelines, greater transparency, and a more candidate-friendly selection process intended to restore trust in EU recruitment and ensure the institutions remain competitive in today’s labour market.

“Europe cannot afford a failing recruitment system for its institutions,” Agius stated. “We want to utilise the best talent in Europe if want to deliver on the important aspirations of European citizens.”

The reform also strengthens Parliament’s oversight over EPSO’s annual work programme - an element long advocated by the EPP Group to guarantee alignment between institutional needs and EPSO’s operational planning.

To explain further the European Parliament’s call for EU recruitment reform and outline EU opportunities for young people, the European Parliament Office in Malta will be holding a Q&A session with MEP Peter Agius on Saturday 6 December at 10:00.