The first European Union civil service competition in seven years is currently underway, organized by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). It marks the initial stage for individuals who wish to begin a career in EU institutions. Poles remain underrepresented within EU structures compared to the country’s size and the principle of geographical balance in employment. As a result, each recruitment round is viewed as an opportunity to strengthen Poland’s representation in the European administration.
“Poles are underrepresented in EU institutions in terms of national quotas. There are currently various recruitment procedures taking place, so it is worth preparing and applying. Let us remember that officials working in EU institutions later become our lobby, in the positive sense of the word, advocating for our interests,” Piotr Müller, Member of the European Parliament from the Law and Justice party, told Newseria news agency.
“Relatively few Poles work in these institutions when you consider our country’s population, potential, and readiness for such work,” added Michał Szczerba, Member of the European Parliament from the Civic Coalition.
The report “Geographical Representation in EU Leadership Observatory 2024,” prepared by European Democracy Consulting, indicates that disparities in the representation of citizens from individual Member States persist in leadership positions within EU institutions. Some countries, particularly those from Central and Eastern Europe, hold fewer leadership roles than their size would suggest. The method of appointing officials in EU institutions is significant not only for the functioning of the administration itself, but also for how European institutions are perceived by citizens across Member States.
As of October 2025, the European Commission—the EU’s largest institution—employed 1,628 Polish citizens out of a total workforce of 31,009. According to Members of the European Parliament, these figures do not reflect the full potential of Polish candidates.
“Poles are ambitious, creative, and well-educated. If they are looking for excellent career development opportunities, the European Union and its institutions are one of the best options. Additionally, it benefits Poland, because every EU official also becomes, in a sense, an ambassador of our country in their daily, painstaking work,” Michał Szczerba emphasized.
The current EPSO competition is the first large-scale, EU-wide recruitment process of this kind in many years. The procedure opens the door to permanent employment in EU institutions for university graduates. EPSO is recruiting for administrator positions, which are the core civil service roles within EU institutions. The competition does not require prior professional experience and is open to candidates holding a university degree and knowledge of at least two official languages of the European Union. After submitting an application through the EPSO portal and successfully passing the selection tests, candidates are placed on a reserve list from which EU institutions may recruit for specific vacancies.
“It is a job that can be a fantastic life adventure, but it is also important in light of the new imperative of competitiveness and security, which are the new priorities set by the Polish Presidency,” Michał Szczerba said.
Employment in EU institutions is considered one of the more stable forms of public administration work. The institutions offer competitive salaries that vary depending on grade and function. For officials, starting salaries range from approximately €3,700 to €6,000 depending on the entry grade. For various categories of contract staff, salaries range from €2,600 to €4,400. Remuneration increases with seniority and promotions.
“Salaries of officials in the European Commission are the same for all nationalities. If a Pole comes to work in Brussels, they receive the same salary as a German or a French employee. Compared to administrative positions in Poland’s public administration, these salaries are significantly higher. Moreover, in the European Commission they are regularly adjusted,” Piotr Müller noted.
The employment system within EU institutions covers not only remuneration rules but also social security and pension arrangements.
“If an official works for a specified number of years, they will receive pension benefits both from the EU budget and from the national system, provided they have accrued pension rights at the national level,” the Law and Justice MEP added.
