Does the EU need an urgent staff renewal? The EPSO exam is back

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) is the EU’s central recruitment body. It administers exams that allow EU citizens to become permanent officials in institutions such as the European Commission, the Parliament, and the Council.

A mix of legal challenges, technical failures, and a recruitment system overhaul caused a seven-year exam hiatus. During this period, thousands of candidates waited as EU institutions relied more on temporary or ageing staff.

In 2026, EPSO is finally reopening its largest competition, with a fully redesigned, digital-first exam system that allows candidates to sit tests remotely in any of the EU’s 24 official languages.

The return has triggered an unusual level of attention and anxiety. Tens of thousands of candidates are expected to apply for around 1,490 spots, making this one of the most competitive EU recruitment rounds in history.

It also raises questions about Brussels’ staffing: Is the EU over-reliant on temporary staff and consultants? Does it favour insider bureaucratic profiles over industry technocrats?

Our poll is anonymous and takes just a few seconds to complete. The results will feature across the EU. XL coverage -in videos, articles, and newsletters- and will help shape our reporting as we explore how Europe can secure its place in the age of artificial intelligence.

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