Why EPSO had to change

EPSO was under sustained fire. The European Ombudsman, the European Data Protection Supervisor, trade unions, and candidates criticised the office for slow procedures (13 months on average), opaque scoring, IT failures, and an Assessment Centre format that disadvantaged non-native speakers of the three procedural languages.

In response, EPSO launched EPSOlution — a five-year roadmap to rebuild the selection system from the ground up.

The timeline

• Year 3 (July 2022 – July 2023): New competition model designed.
• Year 4 (August 2023 – August 2024): Deployment and adjustment.
• Year 5 (September 2024 – May 2025): Results analysis and next-phase planning.

The 7 concrete changes for candidates

1. Compressed timeline

Target: 6 months from publication to reserve list (down from 13). Not always achieved in practice, but dramatically faster than before.

2. Single testing day

All computer-based tests — verbal, numerical, abstract reasoning, plus the Written Test — happen on the same day. No more spreading tests across months.

3. Assessment Centre eliminated

The biggest structural change. Oral presentations, structured interviews, and group exercises are no longer part of the competition. These have been pushed downstream to the recruitment phase, managed by the hiring Directorates-General — not by EPSO.

4. Written Test introduced (February 2024)

Three variants depending on the competition profile: WT (Written Test — communication only), FRWT (Field-Related Written Test — communication + domain knowledge), and EUFTE (Free-Text Essay on EU matters). Subject materials are released 2-3 weeks before the 90-minute exam.

5. All 24 official EU languages (since 2024)

Previously, Language 2 was restricted to English, French, or German for most competitions. Now candidates can choose any two of the 24 official EU languages as their Language 1 and Language 2. This is a massive equaliser.

6. Remote proctoring as default

Prometric test centres are no longer the norm. Most candidates take tests from home under online proctoring supervision.

7. Talent Screener simplified

The scored open-ended questions in the application form have been reduced or eliminated for some competitions. Check each competition notice — this varies.

Remaining controversies

The European Parliament tabled a motion (B10-0497/2025) on EPSO governance in 2025. Key concerns include proctoring reliability, question quality under time pressure, and fairness across different home environments for remote testing. Trade unions (Union Syndicale, Generation 2004) remain critical of implementation quality.

What this means for preparation

The old playbook is obsolete. Assessment Centre preparation — once the core of EPSO training — is no longer relevant at the competition stage. The Written Test is now the most discriminating exam, and it is the most under-prepared-for. Candidates who master the new format have a structural advantage over those still training for the old model.