“Having two dogs, I appreciate that Brussels is a dog-friendly city with many areas where dogs can run freely. A plus is all the green spaces around the city like Bois de La Cambre or Fôret des Soignes where you can find hiking and mountain bike paths. Also, the train network is quite good which allows us to discover Belgium cities and villages in day trips. Last but not least, the intense cultural live! There’s always something interesting happening in the city.”

Accounting in the European Commission is state of the art, with active involvement in standard setting and application. Are you interested in the best way to account for ever changing policies? Do you want to help decision making through the provision of good financial information? Do you see possibilities in using digital tools to improve controls and clarify outcomes? Then come and join us on our journey of continuous improvement.

My name is Charalampos; I joined the European Parliament in Luxembourg after passing a financial officer competition. I am now coordinating the small Ex-Ante Verification team where I started my EU career as a clerical and financial officer in 2019.

Our job is essentially to act as the internal controllers for public procurement and contract execution matters in our DG. This position leads me to interact with other finance and procurement specialists as well as legal advisors dealing with tender procedures and contract execution, mainly in the IT field. It is very fulfilling to interact with them, to understand the varied aspects of procurement they deal with, to hunt for inconsistencies, and to help them solve possible problems.

Before joining the Parliament, I was working for the Defence Ministry in Greece as a financial officer in the fields of accounting, budgeting and public procurement. My wife and I fancied working for an international organisation, so we studied together, and we both successfully passed the same competition! My wife is now working as an accountant officer at Parliament’s DG Finance and our family is happily settled in Luxembourg.

“DG ENV is very active in global environmental affairs, works with the United Nations Environment Programme and negotiating Multilateral Environmental Agreements. It is a great opportunity to promote EU values globally.”

What do you work with?

IT in the European Commission develops systems that are used by staff, Member States, and citizens. In IT at DG Research and Innovation, where I’m Deputy Head of Unit, we develop the eGrants system that is used for the EU grants management process.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I really like the fact that my work is very impactful. For example, the eGrants system has over 2.5 million users from all over the world, it processes more than 20 billion euro per year, and it was even used to fund several Nobel laureates. And then there are the people. It is very satisfying to work with IT experts from all over the EU – it never gets boring.

One tip for someone considering applying for the ICT competition?

Don’t overthink it, just apply. But don’t underestimate the selection process. Prepare, prepare, prepare… and then prepare some more. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be working together!

Marko, Deputy Head of Unit, DG RTD (IT middle management)

Country of origin: Croatia

“Applying for EPSO’s competition for economists can be a great opportunity from many respects!

Hi, my name is Adja and I am a macroeconomist at the European Commission, DG ECFIN. I have a Ph.D. in applied international economics (major econometrics) from the University of Namur. Before joining the European Commission, I worked in the Federal Planning Bureau in Brussels.

Since 2019, I am working in the field of EU fiscal policy. I first spent some years in the unit in charge of the coordination of Member States’ surveillance in the context of the Stability and Growth Pact. Being in constant interaction with many units and colleagues across the DG, was a great experience, which definitely has developed both my practical knowledge on the application of the Pact, a cornerstone of the EU policy, and my leadership skills. It also widened my horizon as regards the different factors driving the EU fiscal policy and public debt developments.

As a result, I recently joined the unit responsible for monitoring and assessing the sustainability of EU public finances in relation to fiscal risks stemming, for instance, from ageing population and related issues (like pensions, health care and long-term care spending), green transition or banking sector. This is a very exciting job, involving a holistic approach to consider fiscal risks arising outside the realm of public finances stricto sensu, some of these risks being also part of the EU major challenges ahead.

So, what can you expect if you work for the European Commission?

• First, you will have the opportunities to deal with many challenges and responsibilities, that are linked to EU policies with a direct impact on Member States,
• Second, you will work with various talented and inspiring colleagues from different backgrounds, both cultural and professional ones.
• Finally, you will also have many occasions to be involved in a broad variety of topics ranging, for instance, from macroeconomic forecasts to the implementation of EU fiscal rules.

So just give it a try, have a look at the Notice of Competition and apply!”

"I am a lawyer by training and have been working for the European Commission since 2005. I started my career in the legal team of DG Agriculture, then moved around inside the same DG, dealing with topics as diverse as international trade negotiations and organic farming. But after 10 very intense and interesting years, I moved to DG ECHO. I worked as an Assistant to the Director-General and later joined the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. Especially these two assignments gave me a good overview of the diversity of work carried out by DG ECHO: From coordinating international emergency response in case of natural disasters in the EU to supporting humanitarian funding across the globe.

More recently, I became the Manager of a Unit of 27 colleagues that deal with the development of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network, a structure that will help civil protection and disaster management stakeholders to connect better and share knowledge. It also entails assisting in civil protection field exercises, organising expert trainings and many more things.

Working in DG ECHO is very special. Because it is essentially about helping people in need and preparing better for disaster. Ultimately, to save lives. I consider this a great privilege: to be part of what is probably one of the most noble policy areas of the Union. It is not about pushing paper, but delivering concrete help when it is most needed. And the COVID-19 pandemic as well as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have shown how important it is to stand together in solidarity.

In fact, I would probably not have thought during my studies of international law at Tübingen and Bonn, London and Berne Universities that I would end up here. But I have not regretted that choice ever since.

And by the way, Brussels is also a very nice place to live and to raise a family. I cannot think of a more international and inspiring workplace. For the three children, growing up in an international environment is a huge opportunity. They grew up bilingual from the beginning and the European Schools make sure that they become enthusiastic young Europeans.

The only thing I should also point out: The weather in Belgium is not always what you would like it to be … but Belgian food and drink compensate."

"My name is Michaela and I am the European Commission Anti-racism Coordinator. Working for the European Commission has deepened my commitment to public service. Every day, I have the opportunity to contribute to policies that strive to reflect European values of human rights, equality and freedom with the aim of uplifting all Europeans, whether addressing inequalities in education, advocating for inclusive digital transformation, or amplifying marginalised voices in policymaking. True public service demands more than good intentions, it requires confronting systemic gaps. As a Black European woman, I’ve felt both the honour and the weight of representing communities often underrepresented in EU spaces. I’ve found strength in turning these gaps into opportunities for change. Initiatives like the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan remind me that progress is possible when institutions prioritise equity as fiercely as they preach it. 
Europe’s strength lies in its diversity, and diverse voices are vital to shaping a Union where everyone belongs."

« Je travaille en tant que juriste-linguiste au sein de l’unité de traduction de langue française à la Cour de justice de l'UE depuis huit ans. Les tâches qui incombent à cette unité consistent principalement en la traduction de pièces de procédure dans des affaires portées devant la Cour et le Tribunal et de conclusions rédigées par les avocats généraux. 

Ce métier permet d’allier une expertise en matière juridique et la pratique des langues, en exerçant dans une institution qui joue un rôle essentiel au sein de l’Union européenne. 

Il offre également un environnement de travail propice à l’acquisition constante de compétences au fil de la carrière, notamment par l’apprentissage de langues étrangères et la formation à l’utilisation de nouveaux outils de travail dans le domaine de l’informatique et des technologies. »

"Hi! My name is Cristina and I come from Alicante, Spain. I graduated in Law at the University Miguel Hernández, and I completed a master’s degree in intellectual property right after that. In my early career, I worked at a law firm specialised in trade mark and design portfolios, and a few years later, I spent some time working as inhouse counsel in the private sector, covering Spain and Portugal. I joined the EUIPO back in 2012 on a Temporary Agent contract, and a few years afterwards, with the firm determination to become an Official, I passed an IP Competition. 
I work now in the Opposition division, drafting decisions on relative grounds. In the past I have been in other teams, and I have also been a Team Leader, which has allowed me to work closely with other IP experts. I work in Spanish, French and English, and sometimes I participate in horizontal projects, such as IPforYOU, collaborating with national IP offices in other countries by delivering presentations, seminars and trainings to top users. Currently, I am a structural teleworker, which means that I work 90% of the time remotely and I go to the office a few days per month. This arrangement benefits my work life balance enormously and gives me plenty of flexibility to organise my day.  
The most satisfying part of my job is being part of the core business in an Office which is a reference in the IP world. We set trends and precedents and play a key role in protecting intellectual property rights and innovators across Europe and beyond. I enjoy the working conditions we have: flexibility to organise my work and meet targets while defining my schedule, well-resourced departments that strive for quality, an innovative office that keeps on investing in technology, and amazing facilities that make coming to the Office a pleasure. 
The above summarises why I believe people should apply to work for the EUIPO as IP specialists. Join us and play a key role in the IP world!"