Correction coefficient
The European Commission ‘Correction coefficient’ is an adjustment that increases or decreases the salary of an EU official based on the relative price level of consumer goods and services in the place of employment, compared to Brussels. The correction coefficient for Brussels is always 100%, and is adjusted at least once every year. Article on…
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe (‘Conseil de l’Europe’ (CdE) in French) is an international organisation founded in 1949. It is most widely known as the guardian of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is enforced by an institution of the CoE – the European Court of Human Rights. The Council of Europe is NOT an…
Council of the European Union
The ‘Council of the European Union’ is one of the three main institutions of the European Union along with the European Commission and the European Parliament. It is often called the ‘Council of Ministers’ or just the ‘Council’. The Council meets in 10 different configurations of 27 national ministers responsible for the particular policy under…
Court of Auditors
The European Court of Auditors (‘Cour des comptes européenne’ in French) is one of the main institutions of the European Union. It was established in 1975 and is located in Luxembourg. It carries out independent auditing of all European Institutions, in contrast to the Internal Audit Service of the European Commission whose work is directed…
Court of Justice of the European Union
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is ‘the EU court’ and one of the main EU institutions that ensures the observance and uniform application and interpretation of EU law within EU member states and institutions. Its headquarters are in Luxembourg.
Daily subsistence allowance
The ‘Daily subsistence allowance’ is one of the benefits paid to new staff members of EU institutions if they have had to relocate within their own country or to a different EU Member State.
Deputy Director-General
A Deputy Director-General is a senior executive role serving directly under the Director-General within a Directorate-General, which is a principal department responsible for a specific policy area. The Deputy Director-General assists the Director-General in the overall management and strategic guidance of the Directorate-General’s operations and is often entrusted with overseeing significant portfolios or specific thematic…
DG
The European Commission ‘Directorates-General’ or DGs are like ministries in EU Member States. Each broad sphere of European Commission competence has its own Directorate-General. Most DGs are headed by a Director General, who in turn reports to a European Commissioner. There are around 33 Directorates-General. Their number tends to change every five years with each…
Director-General
A Director-General in the European Commission is the highest-ranking civil servant. The position is equivalent to a State Secretary in an EU member state ministry. The Director-General is responsible for setting the strategic direction and ensuring the effective functioning of the Directorate-General in fulfilling its mandate. The role of the Director-General includes overseeing the development…
Directorate-General
A Directorate-General (DG) is the main administrative unit of the European Commission. Each DG is responsible for one or several distinct policy areas. DGs are similar to ministries in the EU Member States. Directorates-General are tasked with the development, implementation, and management of EU policies and legislation in their remit. Each DG is led by…
Disability
The Staff Regulations (Article 1c) define ‘disability’ as a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder an employee’s full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. EU institutions are a welcoming work environment for persons with disabilities as EU law empowers them to…
E-tray exercises
An E-tray exercise is a simulation used in EPSO competitions to assess candidates’ skills in organizing and prioritizing work, as well as their ability to process information and make decisions in an office-like setting. This test is particularly relevant for roles that involve administrative and case-handling tasks within EU institutions. This particularly applies to Assistants…
