2026 COM Internal Competition AD5 | Applications open

The European Commission has recently published a new internal competition: COM/AD5/108/2026 – Administrators (AD 5). The aim is to create a reserve list of 100 successful candidates for recruitment at AD5 level within the Commission. 

This is a broad administrator competition for eligible Commission staff, you could even call it a generalist competition. The selection process includes several stages: a Cognitive Assessment, an EU knowledge multiple-choice test, a written test and an oral test.

This new AD5 competition announcement comes on the heels of the first Cognitive Assessment on 11 June for the AD7 candidates, so it is no longer a completely new or unknown format. The Cognitive Assessment is an important first step in the process. This article, and the webcast linked below, will help give candidates a clearer basis for understanding what it involves and how to prepare for it.

Considering applying? Start with the Notice of Competition

Before applying, read the official Notice of Competition carefully. It is the only reliable source for the exact eligibility rules, test structure and selection stages.

This is especially important here because candidates need to check several specific points, including their function group, statutory link, length of service at the Commission, qualifications and language choice.

To help candidates make sense of the process, András Baneth will present a free EU Training webcast. The session will explain the competition structure, the test stages and the most practical way to approach preparation.

Collaborate with fellow candidates

Join the EU Commission Internal Competition Exams Facebook group to ask questions, share insights and stay up to date with the latest news.

Free preparation resources

New to Commission internal competitions? EU Training offers free resources to help you build a solid foundation.

• EU knowledge MCQ study resources
• Written test tips
• There are two free EU Policy Briefings available as well: EU Competition and EU Digital Economy

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Competition Snapshot

• Application Deadline: 30 June 2026 at 12:00 (midday), Brussels time
• Reference number: COM/AD5/108/2026
• Grade: AD5
• Profile: Administrator (Generalist)
• Reserve list places: 100

What will AD5 administrators do in the Commission?

According to the Notice of Competition, AD5 administrators work independently in the interest of the service and support decision-making linked to the Commission’s objectives.

Their work may cover a wide range of policy and resource-management tasks, including:

• carrying out analysis
• drafting reports, briefing notes and legal documents
• collecting, evaluating and interpreting data for decision-making
• helping design, implement, monitor and follow up policies, projects, programmes or action plans
• representing the Commission in different settings, including interinstitutional, judicial, governmental, media or stakeholder contexts
• implementing, evaluating and monitoring EU legislation
• managing resources, such as budgetary, financial, human or IT resources
• carrying out communication, audit or other activities
• coordinating teams

In other words, this is a broad AD5 administrator profile. It is not limited to one specialist policy field, but covers the kind of analytical, drafting, coordination and implementation work needed across the Commission.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

General eligibility and staff status:

Since this is an internal Commission competition, candidates must meet the general recruitment conditions under the Staff Regulations. The key staff-status rules are checked against the situation on the application deadline.

To be eligible, candidates must be one of the following at the Commission:

• a temporary agent in function group AD
• an official or temporary agent from grade AST3 upwards
• a contract agent in function group IV

Candidates must meet the Commission service-length requirements set out in the Notice of Competition, with an additional 36-month service requirement for contract agents.

Language requirements 

Candidates must know at least two official EU languages:

• Language 1: thorough knowledge, minimum C1
• Language 2: satisfactory knowledge, minimum B2

Language 2 must be English, French, or German, and it must be different from the candidate’s main or first language as recorded in Sysper, unless a language change request is accepted with supporting evidence.

Qualifications & professional experience

Candidates must also meet one of the qualification requirements set out in the Notice of Competition.

In brief, this means having either a completed university course of at least three years, completion of the Commission certification programme, or professional training certified as equivalent to a university degree.

The AD5 Notice does not list a separate professional experience requirement linked to these qualifications.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SELECTION PROCESS

1. FIRST ELIGIBILITY CHECKS + COGNITIVE REASONING ASSESSMENT

The first stage of the competition is the first eligibility check, which is broader than the Cognitive Assessment alone. According to the Notice of Competition, this stage includes:

1. the Cognitive Assessment
2. checks on nationality, staff status and service length at the Commission
3. checks on language eligibility
4. confirmation of which candidates are admissible to continue

Candidates who submit their application on time are first invited to sit a computer-based adaptive Cognitive Assessment. This assessment covers numerical, inductive and deductive reasoning, with 24 questions to complete in 36 minutes.

Candidates must score at or above the 60th percentile of the relevant reference population to remain in the process. Those who reach this threshold then move through the other first-stage eligibility checks.

The qualifications check is separate and comes later, before the oral test.

2. MCQ TEST ON EU KNOWLEDGE

Candidates who pass the first eligibility stage then sit a computer-based multiple-choice test on EU knowledge.

According to the Notice of Competition, the test covers candidates’ knowledge of:

• the EU institutional structure
• the Commission’s roles and powers under the EU Treaties
• Commission governance, decision-making and procedures
• the Commission’s strategic priorities

3. WRITTEN TEST

Candidates also sit a written test on the same day as the EU knowledge MCQ.

The written test consists of one drafting assignment, such as a briefing, letter or note, based on a set of documents.

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:

• critical thinking, analysis and creative problem-solving
• written communication

The written test is only assessed for candidates who pass the EU knowledge MCQ and obtain one of the highest MCQ scores, up to a maximum of 2.5 times the target number of successful candidates.

In other words, passing the EU knowledge MCQ is not enough, you need to be at the top of the ranking to have your written test assessed.

4. FINAL ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

If you pass the written test and receive one of the highest scores, you then go through the final eligibility check.

At this stage, the selection board checks whether you meet the qualification requirements, based on your application form and the supporting documents you submitted with it.

Files are checked in score order, starting with the highest written test scores, until the number of eligible candidates reaches 1.5 times the target number of successful candidates.

5. ORAL TEST

If you pass the final eligibility check, you may be invited to the oral test.

The oral test includes:

• a short oral presentation on a topic linked to EU institutions, policies and procedures, followed by a Q&A session
• a structured interview

It assesses your motivation, as well as the following competencies:

• intrapreneurship
• learning ability
• oral communication
• self-management
• cooperation

The oral test lasts up to 60 minutes, is taken in Language 2, and has a pass mark of 25/50.

6. RESERVE LIST

The selection board will draw up a reserve list of successful candidates who:

• meet the eligibility requirements
• pass the oral test
• obtain one of the highest oral test scores

The target number of successful candidates is 100. The reserve list is alphabetical.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to Apply

You must apply through the Single Candidate Portal and complete your application form in your chosen Language 2: German, English or French.

Before applying, check that your information in Sysper is correct, especially your nationality, function group, statutory link, administrative status, time spent at the Commission and languages.

The Notice says you should:

• update your profile in “My CV” via the “My Account” tab on the Single Candidate Portal
• complete the application form via the “Internal Competitions” tab under “Competitions”
• attach the required supporting documents for your qualifications and, where relevant, any language change request

One practical point matters a lot: if you reopen your application to edit it, you must submit it again before the deadline. Otherwise, the application is automatically cancelled.

Start preparing

A good first step is to join the free webcast with András Baneth, where we will go through the competition structure, the test stages and what to prioritise in your preparation.

You can also start preparing already with EU Training’s existing resources:

• COM Internal prep packages: targeted preparation for Commission internal competitions
• EU Course: 12 video modules covering the EU knowledge material you need to revise
• EU policy briefings: useful background reading on key EU policy areas
• Personal coaching: one-to-one support if you want help with Reasoning skills, Written Tests and the Oral Test

Cognitive Assessment practice tests are coming soon too!

Oral Test workshops will be added later in the process, once candidates get closer to that stage.

For now, focus on understanding the Notice of Competition, checking your eligibility carefully and starting with the parts you already know will matter: Cognitive Assessment, EU knowledge and written communication.

______________

For any questions regarding this competition or anything related to EU careers and exams, please contact the EU Training Customer Support Team. You can normally expect a reply within 24 hours.