European Commission Medical Examination

European Commission Medical Examination

All successful applicants for an EU job have to undergo a medical examination before taking up duties. The medical examination is necessary for two reasons: 1) to establish that a candidate is “physically fit to perform his duties”, and 2) to establish a health baseline so that an employee would hold the European Commission or another EU institution accountable for issues that existed before starting the job.

The medical examination usually takes place 2-4 weeks before starting your employment. Attending and passing the medication examination is a prerequisite to signing your employment contract.

This article will help you to understand what to expect and how to prepare for the health check-up, as well as answer some of the most common questions.

Location and travel

The medical examination usually takes place in Brussels, but can also take place in the location of your institution if it has procured the necessary services locally. Irrespective of where the medical examination takes place, you most likely have to take a holiday and plan an extra trip there before the start of employment.

Entrance to European Commission Medical Centre in Brussels
Entrance to European Commission Medical Centre in Brussels

The medical examination in Brussels takes place at the European Commission’s Medical Service, building BREYDEL 2 – office 6/508, 19 avenue d’Auderghem, 1040 Brussels. It is a 10-minute walk or one metro stop away from the Schuman roundabout. The entrance is quite inconspicous so don’t walk past it. Check out the full Google Street View in advance.

What to expect?

Arrival time at the medical centre

Usually you’ll have to be at the medical examination centre at 8:00 AM as the first procedure is a blood test and the lab supposedly closes at 9AM. Because of a blood test, you are required to stop eating at 22:00 the evening before.

I arrived a 8AM sharp and there were already quite a lot of people in the queue, so if you don’t want to wait try to arrive before that. While some sources indicated that the facility opens at 8:00, it apparently is open well before that. I’d recommend to arrive at 7:30 at the latest.

Having arrived at 8:00, I was anyway finished with everything except the ophthalmologist in two hours by 10:00, including the wait in queue.

The ophtalmologist took longer than expected. I arrived at the eye doctor’s office that’s in a different building than the medical centre shortly after 10:00. I was informed that the doctor will be there only at 12:00 and there were a few people before my. I was done by about 14:00, including the wait in a queue again.

What tests are administered?

The medical examination consists of the following procedures:

  1. Blood test
  2. Urine test (sampled locally at the centre)
  3. Heart examination (electrocardiogram)
  4. X-ray of the lungs for smokers (I as a non-smoker was exempted)
  5. General examination (conversation with a general practitioner, stethoscope, relfex tests, etc., like at your family doctor at an annual check-up)
  6. Ophthalmologist (eye examination)

Eye examination

Entrance to European Commission Eye Examination Centre in Brussels
Entrance to European Commission Eye Examination Centre in Brussels

As the eye examination takes place in a different address some 500 meters from the medical centre, you have to walk there for the final check-up. The address is Avenue de Cortenbergh 66, Brussels. Plan at least another 1,5 to 2 hours for the eye examination as in my case there was only one doctor present and it took her around 15 minutes to deal with each patient.

Useful tip. Preserve the eye examination results. Once you start working and are enrolled in JSIS, the EU health insurance scheme, you can buy glasses and get reimbursed based on this document.

Medical examination form

Before the general examination (general check-up by a doctor) all attendants have to fill a fairly detailed health assessment form.  

European Commission medical examination form
European Commission medical examination form

An older version of the form presented at the medical centre can be found here. The layout of the most current form differs slightly, but it has the same contents as the form available for download above. If you have had lots of medical procedures or have a serious health condition, it’s best to take key documentation with you.

Expanded list of questions that might require advance preparation

The examination questionnaire is fairly detailed. There are plenty of questions, where, if you happen to have a particular condition, it wouldn’t be possible to recall the necessary information from the top of your head.

This is a list of questions you probably should go through a week before the medical examination. I suggest that you write down the answers so as to have them available on the medical examination day.

  • Has any of your family members (father, mother, siblings) suffered from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, mental illness, neurological disorders?
  • Give details of any medical condition for which you are currently being treated.
  • Have you ever been treated in a hospital or at a clinic? Where, when and for what reason?
  • Have you ever undergone surgery? Specify nature of operation(s) and date(s).
  • Have you ever been absent from work for more than a month because of ilness? When? What was the ilness?
  • Do you have a partial permanent incapacity for work following an accident or illness? When? Nature of the disability?
  • Have you ever consulted a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst or psychotherapist? When? Nature of the disability?
  • Have you ever undergone treatment for alcohol or drug addiction?
  • Do you regularly take any medication, including oral contraceptives?
  • Have you ever undergone radiological or nuclear medicine examinations? Which examinations?
  • Have you undergone courses of radiotherapy or chemotherapy? Specify treatments.
  • Have you ever had an industrial accident or suffered from an occupational disease?
  • List any occupational or other hazards to which you have been exposed?

As you see, lots of information is requested as part of the examination, part of it can be quite detailed. If you answer with a “YES” to any of the questions, you are requested to indicate when the disorder/disease/incident/procedure took place and other details. Be sure to download and check the form at least a week before your visit at the medical centre as you might need to hunt down health documentation to be able to fill out the form completely. Most institutions’ HR units don’t mention that the information requested will be this detailed.

Consequences of the European Commission medical examination

Article 28 (e) of the Staff Regulations states that a candidate must be “physically fit to perform his duties”. So, theoretically, one can fail the physical evaluation. However, in practice, the European Commission and other EU institutions and agencies are equal opportunities employers and have a fairly high threshold when it comes to health issues.

European Commission medical examination and disabilities

What if I have a disability?

A serious medical condition or a disability is not a reason to avoid applying for a job at the European Commission or another EU institution.

If a person “can perform the essential functions of the job when reasonable accommodation is made” he/she has passed the European Commission standard of qualification for a general office job post. ‘Reasonable accommodation’ in this regard means appropriate measures in relation to the essential functions of the job so that the person with a disability can have access to, participate in, or advance in employment, or to undergo training, unless such measures would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer. (Source: Article 1d(4) of Staff Regulations).

In practice this might mean that you cannot work as a security guard if you have a particular physical disability that does not allow you to perform typical duties of the job. However, with the same disability you would qualify as an office worker where your main work instruments are your brain and a laptop. I’ve had at least one colleague with a serious physical disability, but it was no issue for the person to fulfill the tasks of an AD5 temporary agent.

Access to some benefits restricted for 5 years

While persons with a serious ilness and disability are entitled to coverage by JSIS, the European Commission health insurance scheme, there is a limitation if the condition existed before taking up an EU job.

Where the medical examination made before an official takes up his duties shows that he is suffering from sickness or invalidity, the appointing authority may, in so far as risks arising from such sickness or invalidity are concerned, decide to admit that official to guaranteed benefits in respect of invalidity or death only after a period of five years from the date of his entering the service of the Union.

Article 1 of Annex VIII to the Staff Regulations

In practice this means that a new EU institutions employee would be able to benefit from a number of social security measures after he/she has been in a job for five years. These suspended benefits would include at least the following:

  • Insurance against the risk of death and of invalidity occurring during employment
  • Entitlement to an early pension due to an occupational safety hazard
  • Survivor’s pension for one’s spouse and orphan’s pension for a child

Failure to show up or not taking the job despite passing the medical examination

If you do not undergo the medical examination at the set date without a strongly justified reason, the particular EU institution will most likely withdraw its job offer. If for some justified reason you are not able to attend the medical examination, inform the respective institution’s HR unit immediately, try to agree on a different examination date and document and present the reasons why you were not able to attend the medical examination at the initial date.

If you undergo the medical examination and cover the associated travel and other costs, but end up not taking the job, the particular EU institution will most likely not reimburse you for the costs associated with attending the medical check-up.

Costs

You do not have to pay for any of the costs directly associated with the medical examination. It is indeed free of charge and you get the benefit of a thorough health check.

Travel and subsistence costs related to the medical examination will be reimbursed by your prospective employer. However, you have to initially pay for you travel, accommodation and subsistence costs out of your own pocket, and then to submit proof of payment to your institution’s HR unit along with any requested forms (usually, Application for Reimbursement of Travel and Subsistence Expenses, Legal Entity form, Financial Identification form). The forms will be provided by the institution’s HR unit.

Main reimbursement conditions

  • Reimbursement of travel expenses generally has a limit of 750 EUR regardless of where the applicant flies from;
  • You will be reimbursed only if the distance between the place of residence (as stated in the application form) and the examination centre is over 150 km;
  • You can travel by air only if the distance by rail exceeds 500 km (where a sea crossing is necessary, the 500 km limit does not apply);
  • Economy flights and other means of transport are preferred by the institutions. If you buy an expensive ticket, be certain that you can justify your choice (i.e., had to fly out after work, no other alternatives);
  • Taxi, parking fees and urban transport expenses are usually not reimbursed; these have to covered from the daily allowance amount;
  • You can travel with private car, but check the particular rules of reimbursement, including the necessary proof of payment for gas;
  • If you are unsure of the rules or have any doubts about travel expenses, get in touch with the institution’s representative that arranged your medical examination.

EU institutions usually offer a subsistence allowance / per diem of EUR 50 per day if the medical centre is at least 150 km from you place of residence. You are expected to cover accommodation (hotel) costs from this amount so either be prepared to sleep in shoddy hotels or get in touch with friends in Brussels.

Do you have question or suggestion for this article? Please share in a comment below and let’s make this resource better for you and other readers!

111 responses to “European Commission Medical Examination”

  1. I was recently put on the reserve list and expecting a job offer. Unfortunately I got cancer, which is currently treated
    I should be cancer free soon but of course will have more intense follow up/check ups to enyit does not come back. Is this a reason to withdraw a job offer. On the other hand I cannot afford anything with limited insurance.

    • I’m not able to comment on this very specific situation in detail.

      Two general thoughts:
      – You can ask to postpone start of work for up to 3 months after the offer has been shared with you according to EU rules. If you’re main treatment will finish in this period, you will have no issues. If you’ll have to go on sick leave later, you’ll already be employed and covered by JSIS.
      – If the offer is withdrawn because of you can’t start work because of your health situation / cancer treatment, I would consult one of the EU staff labour unions or a lawyer about your options. Maybe it’s possible to extend the 3 months wait period, maybe there’s something else in EU law that allows you to get the job.

      I really hope it’ll be option 1 for you. Best of luck!

  2. I did my medical examination two weeks ago and they noticed some slightly altered blood values. I retook the blood test in my country and everything is back to normal. Should I communicate this to HR? Could slightly altered blood tests be a reason of offer withdrawal?

    • I can’t replace a Commission doctor, but practice tells that it has to be something very serious for the offer to be rescinded. Even people with severe medical conditions get job offers, but might not qualify for all JSIS benefits in the first 5 years of employment. Please see the article about disability which is complementary to this post.

  3. Hi. I have read the entire article, but would like an extra input.

    I have mild colourblindness, namely protanopia. I have been selected to work as a translator for the EC, written translation work, not as an interpreter. I have passed and obtained one of the highest marks in the selection tests and have been working in this same profession for 5 years with no issues whatsoever related to that condition.

    I have read that colourblind tests are carried out.

    Am I likely to pass the standard of qualification? And if so, with any restrictions as regards benefits?

    Thanks you in advance

    • This is a very specific question. I believe this shouldn’t disqualify you. You might be disqualified if you, for example, would have applied for a communications role with graphic design duties.

      Apologies for the late reply due to a heave workload. In case you have already started working, can you share how the medical check went?
      In case you’re still in the process, read the article on disabilty and EU employment.

  4. Hello! Many thanks for this article, it’s very useful. I was wondering if the testing takes place in Brussels and I am a resident of Brussels, but at the same time I am teleworking from abroad, do you know if the transportation costs would be reimbursed? Thank you!

  5. I would like to have clarified some question.
    Can the institution withdraw offer after the medical examination?
    In what type circuntances and common is this? In this situation, the candidate is reimbursed from the expenses?
    Candidates have access to medical results (how details are they?)?
    Thank you

    • Hi! There is a theoretical possibility that the offer is withdrawn, for example, in cases where your health condition does not allow to perform the tasks with a reasonable accommodation. An example that would come to my mind would be that you apply as a security guard and this requires regular physical monitoring of premises by walking around but you are not able to do this for some reason. (I cannot think of a better example.)

      However, in most cases if you are able to perform the tasks with ‘reasonable accommodation’ even if you have a disability, you should be hired by EU institutions.

      Your medical expenses should still be compensated.

      I don’t know about the access to medical results. People have reported that they have requested them, while I haven’t, and I don’t know if anyone actually got anything like a document.

      *** Please consider joining our EUEA Facebook group! There it’s more likely that not only I but other readers will share their info and experience. To join, follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/562529148888619/

  6. Hi,
    Do you suggest to wait for the ‘green light’ (i.e. the medical clearance) before resigning from my current position?

    • Always wait until you get the medical clearance. Some readers have reported that the medical examination resutls are significantly dalayed – in some cases by months not weeks. You also have to be ready for the minuscule possibility that the medical examination yields negative results, e.g., if you’ve applied for a security position but some kind of a disability or a serious health condition is uncovered.

      In general, once the EU institutions send you an ‘offer’, they are committed and will wait for you up to three months.

  7. Hello.
    I have some questions regarding the flight costs reimbursements and daily allowance for accommodation.
    Do I need to provide a copy of fight tickets and the hotel receipt to receive the allowance? Can I use the allowance to cover food and transport (bus, tax..)?
    If I want to go one or two days before to find out the surroundings and or / leave after, because the flight is cheaper, is there any problem?
    Thank you

    • As the travel cost reimbursement rules slightly change from year to year, please consult a relevant document or other information shared with you by the future employer. If you have not received these, please ask the institution’s HR. The document will answer this question. Bear in mind that rules are the same for all European Commission DGs, but might differ from EU agency to agency.

      Usually there is flexibility as the institution’s reimburse costs up to a certain ceiling. You will be reimbursed for costs directly related to the medical examination, e.g., one night in hotel, cheapest airfare, etc. Regarding flights, you might be asked to provide a comparison flight as if you would be going to Brussels or another EU location where the examination takes place for the exact dates. You would then be reimbursed either for the actual flight if it is cheaper than the comparison flight, or for the comparison flight cost if your actual flight is more expensive.

  8. Good evening, 25 years ago I had a fracture in my hand and I had to have surgery and have osteosynthesis materials placed. I never had them removed under doctors’ orders. I’ve never had a problem at work or in my sport. Is there any chance that I have a problem with the medical tests for something that was done all those years ago and it is understood that I have never had a problem with it before?

    • This should not be a problem. I understand that it’s not even a formal disability, so you are likely to get the full benefits package. People have successfully passed the medical examination with far graver conditions.

  9. Hello,
    Many thanks for the informative article above
    I am Parimala from India, and I want to apply for a suitable position with the European institutions.
    I am visually challenged/totally blind by birth, currently working for IBM India.
    I suffer from type 2 diabetes and PCOD, and I am on a daily medication for the same
    Want to know if this condition would lead me to fail the European Commission medical exam by any chance please?

    • Hi! Only EU citizens can apply for positions in EU institutions. If you are a citizen of India, sorry, but you’re not eligible.
      You might try the UN institutions or other international bodies, but it’s notoriously difficult to get into these.

  10. Hello,

    I was wondering if during the medical examination, they look for drugs (THC). I occasionally use cannabis and I am bit scared I could fail the medical examination because of that.

    Thank you.

    • This was already asked before. Me and other readers asked the person who asked the question to report back, but never heard of the experience and the outcome. So – sorry, we just don’t know.

  11. Hi I am Michael

    The doctor discovered me an ulcerative colitis in 2016. Is an autoimune disease. Since that date, I have never suffered any sympthoms and I have never taken a medical leave.

    Can they decide that i am not fit for working in EU Institutions for this illness?

    • Hi! Judging from my understanding and commments from other readers, you should be fine. At the worst, you could have restrictive access to the life insurance as described in the article. There is also a possible “benefit” of your condition – you should disclose it and get it recognized as a serious ilness, as in this case all medicines and healthcare costs associated with this disease might be reimbursed at a 100% rate instead of the usual 80-85%.

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