Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the European Commission

17.10.2023

The Commission underscores that each selection procedure is unique and, unless otherwise specified in the vacancy notice, does not lead to the establishment of a reserve list of candidates deemed suitable for appointment but rather to a single appointment, following a transparent, fair, and equal process based on merit.

In the case of the selection procedure for the Chief Economist in Directorate-General for Competition, further to the withdrawal of the appointee, Ms Scott Morton, the Commission has no option but to consider the selection procedure closed without appointment and to proceed with a new publication of the post. The Commission firmly rejects any allegations regarding contacts with prospective candidates in the context of this future publication.

The Commission also underlines that the regulatory framework allows all EU institutions, under certain conditions, to employ non-EU staff members based on the needs of the service.

With respect to the specific questions:

1. The Commission currently employs ten senior managers and 30 middle managers whose nationality is British, with about half of them also holding an EU nationality; there are no other managers whose nationality is non-EU. Among the non-management staff, the Commission currently employs 402 members of staff whose nationality is British, with nearly half of them also holding an EU nationality.

2. The Commission currently employs 19 members of staff whose nationality is non-EU (excluding the British) .