EEAS Call for Expression of Interest for future recruitments of Temporary Agents under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) (AD6) - Legal Adviser / Officer in EU Administrative Law and/or EU Civil Service Law

WE ARE

The European External Action Service (hereafter, the “EEAS”) supports the High Representative in the exercise of his mandate to conduct and implement an effective and coherent EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (hereafter, the “CFSP”), to represent the EU and to chair the Foreign Affairs Council.

It also supports the High Representative in his capacity as Vice-President of the Commission with regard to his responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field, including the coordination of other aspects of the EU’s external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with the EU Member States as well as the General Secretariat of the Council, the services of the Commission and the Secretariat General of the European Parliament.

The Division LD.2 “Administrative Law and EU Civil Service Law” is one of the two legal divisions which together constitute the EEAS Legal Department, under the responsibility of the Chief Legal Officer.

The Legal Department provides independent legal advice to the High Representative and the EEAS services, upon request or on its own initiative, on all aspects relating to their mandates and tasks under the Treaties and the Council Decision establishing the EEAS. The Legal Department also represents the HR and the EEAS in judicial proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and other jurisdictions as required.

The Division LD.2 covers all legal questions relating, inter alia, to the EEAS administrative activities and the implementation of the EU Staff Regulations (hereafter, the “SR”) and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (hereafter, the “CEOS”)1 as well as the EU Financial Regulation and the relevant legal framework governing public Access to Documents and Data Protection in both Headquarters and EU Delegations.

In particular, this Division:

• provides legal advice on EEAS staff matters (including rights and obligations, career, administrative inquiries and disciplinary matters);
• provides legal advice on administrative law (contractual, financial and procurement issues);
• reviews draft internal administrative rules (in particular those implementing the SR/CEOS);
• reviews draft replies to administrative requests and complaints, as well as other individual decisions where necessary;
• reviews draft confirmatory replies to access to documents requests and draft replies to Ombudsman requests;
• represents the HR and the EEAS in judicial proceedings in administrative and staff matters.

WE PROPOSE

Depending on the outcome of future appointment procedure(s) under Article 29 of the SR, EEAS services and especially its Legal Department may have job opportunities in a coming future that would involve the recruitment of the Temporary Agents under Article 2(b) of the CEOS.

In order to facilitate the recruitment process and to avoid duplication of recruitment procedures, the AACC has decided to organise a call for expression of interest in view of setting up a reserve list of profiles that would be best fit for the performing of legal works either as Legal Adviser within the EEAS Legal Department or as Legal Officers within operational services of the institution who work in close collaboration with the Legal Department, especially the Directorate-General for Resource Management.

Under the direction of the Head of Division, the selected candidate(s) will be required to provide legal analysis, advice and assistance in the areas falling under the responsibility of the Division. When required, he or she will be called to act as an agent representing the EEAS in litigation before the EU Courts.

The main responsibilities of the post are as follows:

• providing legal advice on ad hoc cases or horizontal issues, including on the implementation of the SR/CEOS and the EU Financial Regulation and other areas of EU administrative law;
• providing legal review of internal administrative rules;
• providing legal support and advice for handling legal conflicts (pre-contentious stage and litigation stage);
• providing briefing notes and legal analyses;
• representing the EEAS in litigation before the EU Courts.

LEGAL BASIS

The vacancy/vacancies to come would be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS)(2), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents.

The successful candidate would be offered a contract as Temporary Agent under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) at the grade of AD6 for a 4-year duration, renewable for another 2 years.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates must meet ALL of the following general and specific conditions on the closing date for online applications:

• Be a national of one of the EU Member States and enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Meet any obligations imposed on him or her by the laws concerning military service;
• Provide the appropriate character references as to his suitability for the performance of his duties;
• Have the capacity to work in the languages of the CFSP and external relations (English and French), which are necessary for the performance of the duties pertaining to this post.
• possess a level of education:
  
  a. which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, OR
  
  b. which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and relevant professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years.
• have a university degree in law;
• have gained at least 3 years' full time professional experience. This experience must have been gained after obtaining the four-year diploma or after obtaining the three-year diploma and the one year relevant professional experience;
• Have at least two years’ proven, pertinent working experience as lawyer or legal adviser or officer.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates should:

• have an excellent ability to maintain diplomatic relations and to ensure representation, communication in a complex, multicultural environment;
• have an excellent capacity to create constructive working relations with national authorities, international organisations and the Member States;
• have strong drafting, communication and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
• hold a university degree in law;
• have a very good knowledge of EU legal and institutional matters;
• have a good understanding of the SR and CEOS or of the EU Financial Regulation;
• be able to draft legal texts in English and French;
• have proven ability to work on an autonomous basis and be able to find practical but legally sound solutions to administrative issues;
• have proven ability to work under pressure, and manage tight deadlines;
• be a flexible team player.

Furthermore:

• professional experience in labour law, in particular with regard to the SR and CEOS or Financial Regulation;
• knowledge and experience in EU law on access to documents and data protection;
• professional experience pleading before the Court of Justice of the European Union or before national courts; working experience with or within other EU institutions;
• knowledge of other EU languages,

would be considered assets.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE (3):

The selection procedure will take place in three different and successive steps:

1. Expression of Interest

Expressions of interest should be sent by e-mail to the following functional mailbox:

SG-LD-2@eeas.europa.eu

For the purposes of the e-mail application, the subject of the email shall include the following title:

"2023-EoI-HQ (AD)-TA2b-AD6 – Legal reserve list”

The expression of interest must be accompanied by:

• An updated Curriculum vitae. Candidates are invited to use the "Europass" CV format (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae) for their applications.
• A letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) in either English or in French;

Expressions of interest/applications may be submitted no later than 23/10/2023 (Brussels time).

For correspondence concerning the selection procedure, please use the following email address (the subject of the e-mail must include the following title: "2023-EoI-HQ (AD)-TA2b-AD6 – Legal reserve list”

To: EEAS-HQ-APPLICATIONS-AD@eeas.europa.eu

Copy: SG-LD-2@eeas.europa.eu

2. Pre-selection

The pre-selection will be done by a panel on the basis of the qualifications and the professional experience described in the CV and motivation letter. The panel will produce a shortlist of a limited number of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post.

3. Selection

The candidates who have been shortlisted will be invited for an interview so that the selection panel can evaluate them objectively and impartially on the basis of their qualifications, professional experience and linguistic skills, as listed in the present vacancy notice. The selection panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates to the Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment that will make the final selection as regards the names of the candidates that should be placed on the reserve list that would be valid until 31 December 2024 and could be extended for an additional year.

In that regard, it is worth reminding that being placed on the reserve list does not involve a guarantee of recruitment.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:

The EEAS is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EEAS is committed to promoting gender equality and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and from the broadest possible geographical basis amongst the EU Member States. We aim at a service, which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.

If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact us at EEAS-HQ-APPLICATIONS-AD@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure the possibility to pass the selection procedure in equality of opportunities with other candidates.

If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 1d(4) of the Staff Regulations.

APPOINTMENT:

In the event of future vacancies, the candidate(s) featuring on the reserve list would be considered for recruitment as temporary agents under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents

The selected candidate(s) will be required to undergo a medical fitness examination in accordance with Article 13 of the CEOS.

In case of positive results on the medical fitness examination and after assessment of the PSC conditions, the candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent, Grade AD6(4) for a duration 4 years renewable only once for another 2 years.

All member of the temporary staff shall serve initially a nine-month probationary period in accordance with Article 14 CEOS.

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The posts concerned are currently not identified as a post which requires Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) to access EU classified information (EUCI) in accordance with point 7 of Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2017) 10 on the security rules of the EEAS5 and as implemented by Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019 and its implementing decisions.

Nonetheless, candidates are informed that the list of posts requiring a PSC in the EEAS Headquarters is subject to regular review and that the current post might be identified in the future as a post which requires PSC.

If required after taking up duties, the selected candidate(s) will need to be in a position to obtain a valid PSC issued by the competent authority of their Member State in accordance with national laws and regulations.

In case of failure to obtain or renew the required PSC, the AACC may take the appropriate measures in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019.

Description of the EU classified information levels is available under Article 2 of the Decision ADMIN(2017) 10 on the security rules of the EEAS (6).

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Brussels, Belgium

CONTACT: Karim KOURI, Head of Division

Tel: +32 2 584 3091

Email: karim.kouri@eeas.europa.eu

The closing date for submissions is 23/10/2023 12:00 (noon, Brussels time).

1.  Staff Regulations of Officials (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). For reference, see: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20190101
2. Staff Regulations of Officials (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). For reference, seehttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20190101
3. Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. The privacy statement is available on EEAS webpage: http://eeas.europa.eu/data_protection/rights/index_en.htm
4. The basic salaries offered by the EU institutions are set out in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations. The current level, can be accessed via the link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C:2020:428:FULL&from=EN
5. OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.
6. OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.