Permanent staff (known as ‘officials’) work for the EU institutions on a permanent basis. They build long-term careers helping to develop and implement EU policies and programmes.
Levels and responsibilities
Roles for officials are grouped into 3 function groups. Each group reflects the type of work involved, the level of responsibility, the required experience and the salary. Within each group, there are different grades. These show seniority: the higher the grade, the greater the responsibility and the higher the salary.
Administrators (AD)
Administrators work in strategic and policy-oriented roles. Their work can include:
- developing and coordinating policy
- legal and regulatory work
- economic analysis and research
- scientific or technical expert work
- management and leadership
- project management
Grade range: AD5 to AD16
Entry grades: usually AD5 to AD7
Senior and management roles: higher AD grades
Assistants (AST)
Assistants provide administrative, technical and training support. These roles focus on implementation and day-to-day delivery, usually under the guidance of more senior staff. Their work can include:
- operational and technical support
- administrative coordination
- project and programme support
Grade range: AST 1 to AST 11
Entry grades: usually AST 1 to AST 3
Assistant-Secretaries and Clerks (AST/SC)
Assistant-secretaries and clerks provide clerical and secretarial support. They ensure services run smoothly by supporting day-to-day organisation and administration, under the supervision of senior staff. Their work can include:
- office management and secretarial work
- administrative and clerical support
- document management and coordination
Grade range: AST/SC 1 to AST/SC 6
Entry grades: usually AST/SC 1 or AST/SC 2
How permanent staff are recruited
To become an official, you must first pass an external competition, organised by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) for all EU institutions. These competitions assess knowledge and skills such as:
- professional knowledge
- analytical and problem-solving abilities
- communication skills
- language skills
If you are successful, you are placed on a reserve list, from which EU institutions recruit as vacancies arise. A reserve list is a pool of pre-qualified talents, but it does not guarantee immediate recruitment. For more information about competitions, visit EPSO's website.