# EU civil servant

- Link: https://euemployment.eu/glossary/eu-civil-servant/
- Published: 2024-06-01T12:48:43+02:00
- Author: Ben

Only three staff categories in EU institutions count as ‘EU civil servants’:

 * [Administrators](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/administrators/) AD 5-16
 * [Assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) AST 1-11
 * [Secretaries and Clerks AST/SC](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/secretaries-and-clerks-ast-sc/)
   1-6

All other staff categories including Contract Agents and Seconded National Experts
are not EU civil servants but simply employees of institutions of the European Union.

With this nomenclature question out of the way, here’s what EU civil servants do–

An EU civil servant is an individual employed by the European Union’s institutions,
agencies, or bodies, such as the [European Commission](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-commission/),
the [European Parliament](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/european-parliament/),
the [Council of the European Union](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/council-of-the-european-union/),
and various other entities. These civil servants are responsible for implementing
EU policies, managing EU programs, and ensuring the smooth operation of the Union’s
administrative and legislative functions.

EU civil servants are recruited through a rigorous selection process organized by
the European Personnel Selection Office ([EPSO](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/epso/)).
This process includes competitive exams and assessments designed to identify candidates
with the necessary skills and qualifications. Once recruited, EU civil servants 
are classified into different function groups and grades, reflecting their roles
and responsibilities: [Administrators](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/administrators/)(
AD), [Assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) (AST), and Secretaries/
Clerks (AST/SC).

[Administrators](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/administrators/) typically handle
policy development, analysis, and management tasks.

[Assistants](https://euemployment.eu/glossary/assistants/) provide technical and
administrative support.

Secretaries/Clerks handle clerical and office management duties.

One of the defining features of an EU civil servant’s role is their commitment to
serving the interests of the EU as a whole, rather than any individual member state.
This principle ensures that their work is aligned with the broader goals and values
of the European Union, fostering unity and cooperation across its diverse member
states.