# EU Faces Hiring Crisis as EPSO Exam Shows Geographical Imbalance Record Italian applicant surge threatens EU efforts to balance civil service representation. - **Source:** [Euronews – Latest](https://www.euronews.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [careers](https://brifing.si/c/careers) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f4410b9f-e1e5-4216-af56-aeeecbb9792e ## EPSO Exam Participation Surge The European Commission’s entrance exam, known as EPSO, is scheduled between November 9 and November 13. This year, the process faces a significant statistical anomaly with nearly 80,000 Italian applicants out of 175,000 total candidates. This massive participation rate creates a major challenge for the institution's goal of maintaining balanced geographical representation. ## Geographical Staffing Imbalances Current EU civil service data reveals severe staffing gaps across member states. Germany and France currently sit at only 64% and 73% of their targeted staffing benchmarks, respectively. Furthermore, a looming retirement wave is expected to vacate 16% of all active German official posts, creating an urgent need for new, diverse talent. ## New HR Framework Mandates To address these disparities, the Commission enacted a 2025 internal HR framework prioritizing 15 underrepresented member states. This mandate legally requires hiring managers to invite at least one candidate from these specific countries to final job interviews. The policy applies to all candidates who successfully pass the current generalist exam and reserve list. ## Meritocracy Versus Representation The EPSO exam functions as a blind, merit-based test focusing on raw scores. Because Italian candidates represent such a large portion of the applicant pool, they are mathematically positioned to dominate final hiring lists. This creates a direct conflict between the institution's commitment to pure meritocracy and its stated geographical diversity goals. ## Northern Europe Engagement Gap While Southern European interest in EU civil service roles has surged, youth in Northern and Western Europe are largely ignoring the recruitment call. This lack of engagement from specific regions exacerbates the existing imbalance. The Commission must now determine how to attract a broader demographic to ensure a truly representative European civil service. ## Financial Incentives and Reality The EU offers approximately €6,000 per month alongside lifelong job security, yet the competition remains fierce. Only 3% of applicants typically succeed in securing a position through the rigorous EPSO process. This low success rate, combined with a seven-year wait for some exam cycles, complicates efforts to attract a diverse, high-quality talent pipeline. ## Future of Eurocrat Recruitment The Commission is currently evaluating how to ensure both fairness and representation in its future workforce. If current trends continue, the next generation of Eurocrats could be overwhelmingly Italian. Policymakers are now forced to weigh whether to adjust the exam structure or maintain current blind testing methods despite the resulting demographic skew. ## Broader Institutional Implications This hiring imbalance is not merely a logistical issue but a strategic concern for the EU's future. As the institution prepares to navigate the age of artificial intelligence, the composition of its civil service remains critical. The ongoing debate over recruitment policies will likely shape how Europe secures its administrative position in coming years. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/09/epso-can-the-eu-fix-its-hiring-imbalance-take-our-poll — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._