Access to the EU interpreting service
28.2.2000
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0640/00
by Lissy Gröner (PSE) to the Commission
1. In addition to the conditions set out in the notice of competition, candidates for competition COM/LA/1051 for interpreters at the Commission were required to meet the further requirement of having followed a higher-education course lasting at least four years, a requirement of which they were not informed until their applications were rejected. How does the Commission explain this poor treatment of candidates?
2. What educational requirements - specific designation of diploma and type of higher-education establishment and minimum duration of higher-education studies - were met by applicants from the various Member States who were admitted to competition COM/LA/1051 and to previous interpreting competitions?
3. According to paragraph II.B.2 of the notice of open competition COM/LA/1051, the jury was to take account of the different education systems when making its selection.
- (a)Does the Commission base this decision on Directive 89/48/EEC and on the minimum duration for higher-education studies specified therein?
- (b)How does it justify any deviation from full application of that Directive?
- (c)If there is any deviation from the above Directive, how does the Commission justify placing graduates of German colleges of higher education ("Fachhochschulen") at a disadvantage by comparison with graduates of higher-education establishments in other Member States whose diplomas, recognised as equivalent under the Directive, do not set higher requirements than these German colleges?
- (d)What steps are taken to ensure the greatest possible transparency and legal certainty for applicants where additional criteria and rules are applied?
4. How many graduates of German "Fachhochschulen" are employed by the Commission in categories A and LA (apart from national experts) without having been required to provide education certificates in addition to their college diploma?
5. How many of the staff employed in categories A and LA graduated from British and Irish universities with a bachelor's degree and were not required to provide any further certificates of education?
OJ C 46 E, 13/02/2001