MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Appointment of MEP Markus Pieper as the new ‘EU envoy for small and medium-sized enterprises’ – P-000809/2024(ASW)

1. Mr Pieper was appointed for the function of Hors Classe Adviser — EU SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) Envoy following a thorough procedure, based on merit and conducted in full compliance with the applicable rules. For any selection procedure that involves several stages, the results obtained by a candidate who is successful in one stage of the process do not prejudge the outcome of the subsequent stages. The preselection panel and the Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA) identified the candidates with the necessary qualifications and competences to proceed to the subsequent stage. There was no ranking between the candidates shortlisted by the CCA and the candidate considered best by the College was chosen after the CCA stage and the interviews with the relevant members of the Commission.

2. The criteria for the selection were laid down in the vacancy notice as published. The selection procedure is laid down in the policy on senior officials[1] and includes several stages: a pre-selection stage, an assessment centre with external human resources consultants, interviews with the CCA and interviews with the relevant members of the Commission.

3. The individual assessments of candidates in a selection procedure are confidential and covered both by the secrecy of panel deliberations, as recognised by the case-law of the EU courts[2] and by data protection rules.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that Mr Pieper decided not to take up his post as EU SME Envoy on 16 April 2024 as planned.

• [1] https://commission.europa.eu/jobs-european-commission/job-opportunities/managers-european-commission_en
• [2] See, for instance, the judgment of 4 July 1996, Parliament v Angelo Innamorati, Case C-254/95 P, EU:C:1996:276, paragraphs. 24-30 and, more recently, in the context of a selection procedure for a post in the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, the judgment of the General Court of 21 December 2022, OM v Commission, T-118/22, EU:T:2022:849, paragraph 24 and the case-law cited.