Requests for Review: why does it take so long?
When a reserve list is published, EPSO receives a large number of requests for review (RfRs) at the same time.
In recent competitions, the number of RfRs has increased significantly, in some cases almost 10-fold, as more candidates reach the final stages of the selection process and receive detailed results at the same time.
Each request must be carefully examined. EPSO performs a pre-analysis of the RfRs to check for any material errors and to prepare the files before submitting them to the Selection Board.
The Selection Board then assesses all requests. This stage can take time due to the high volume of cases and the detailed nature of the review process.
Replies can only be published once the Selection Board has finalised its work on all requests.
There is no legally defined deadline for handling RfRs. Based on recent experience since 2024, replies are typically published within 2 to 6 months after the deadline for submitting requests.