ECA/2025/4 - Lawyer (1 post)

WHO WE ARE

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is the European Union’s external auditor. Established in 1975, the ECA is one of the EU’s seven institutions. We are based in Luxembourg and employ around 1000 audit, support and administrative staff of all EU nationalities.

The ECA operates as a collegiate body of 27 Members, one from each EU Member State. Our auditors check that the EU keeps good accounts and correctly applies its financial rules, and that its policies and programmes achieve their intended objectives and deliver value for money.

Through our work, we contribute to improving the EU’s financial management and promote accountability and transparency. We warn of risks, provide assurance, indicate shortcomings and successes and offer guidance to EU policymakers and legislators. We present our observations and recommendations to the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and national governments and parliaments, as well as the general public.

We are a modern and dynamic organisation striving for and promoting excellence, professionalism, transparency and integrity. We define ourselves as a diverse, flexible and equitable institution, which offers every individual the opportunity to maximise his or her talent. Through our individual and collective involvement in the ECA’s activities and our ambitious training programme, our aim is to make the ECA an intellectually stimulating workplace, and a learning-based organisation that relies on institutional knowledge and motivated and well-trained people to serve the EU and its citizens.

We are an EU institution on a human scale: this facilitates integration, allows for easier interaction, and encourages teamwork. We offer flexible working hours and teleworking, including from outside the place of residence. We value diversity and inclusion, promote equal opportunities, and ensure a respectful working environment based on open communication, dialogue, and mutual trust. Staff engagement, well-being and greening are important pillars of our internal policies.

The Legal Service reports to the Presidency and provides the ECA with legal advice and support in all areas of its activity, including its powers and prerogatives, legal questions arising in the context of its audits, cooperation with OLAF and the EPPO as well as staff and administrative matters. Its members represent the institution in proceedings before the CJEU. Working for the ECA Legal Service gives you a unique opportunity to acquire a varied and fulfilling experience, covering a wide range of topics of EU law and policies (for example cohesion policy, natural resources and environment, external action, EU financial governance or the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility).

WHAT WE ARE OFFERING

This vacancy notice is being issued on the basis of Article 29(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union.

The advertised position is therefore open ONLY to AD officials of the European Court of Auditors, AD officials of other EU institutions and successful candidates in an EU AD competition[1]

We are seeking to recruit one (1) lawyer in the Legal Service. 

Under the authority of the principal manager of the Legal Service, the lawyer will contribute to the work of the service, which includes:

—         drafting legal opinions in the areas of EU law related to the activities of the ECA (in particular policy areas subject to EU funding);

—         advising ECA Members and audit chambers;

—         providing advice on institutional, administrative and civil service law;

—         defending the ECA’s interests is contentious matters and represent the ECA before the EU courts;

—         providing legal advice in the area of procurement and contracts;

—         analysing potential cases of fraud and other criminal conduct affecting the EU’s financial interests and advising the institution on the appropriate steps to take (e.g. transmission to OLAF/EPPO);

—         providing legal assistance to the appointing authority and investigators in administrative investigations and disciplinary proceedings;

—         providing support in ethical matters (e.g. concerning the ECA Ethics Committee and the EU Ethics Body);

—         drafting and/or revising internal decisions and guidelines;

—         providing trainings in EU law for ECA staff.

[1]     Organised by EPSO or by one of the EU institutions.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The advertised position is open to applicants who, on the deadline for applications, meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Staff Regulations as well as the following criteria:  

1.          Knowledge of languages

As English and French are the ECA’s official working languages, a sound knowledge of one of these languages (minimum level C1 in understanding, speaking and writing) and a good knowledge of the other language (minimum level B2 in the same categories) are required. 

Please indicate in your CV the language level according to the following assessment model:  https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference

2.         Experience and skills

During the selection process, the candidates will need to demonstrate:

—         thorough knowledge of EU law and proceedings;

—         excellent analytical, drafting and communications kills;

—         sense of service and confidentiality, proven ability to meet deadlines and to deal with several tasks at the same time as well as to work both autonomously and as part of a team.

3.        Assets

In addition to the above, the following will be considered as assets:

—         knowledge of EU public finances and Financial Regulations;

—         knowledge of proceedings before the EU courts;

—         knowledge of procurement law;

—         knowledge of civil service law;

—         knowledge of the legal framework relating to the protection of the financial interests of the EU, in particular cooperation with OLAF and the EPPO.

APPLICATIONS

The deadline for applications is 12:00 (midday) Luxembourg time on 4 March 2025.

Applications must be submitted only via the online form provided for the advertised position and must comprise the following documents in English or French:

- a cover letter;

- an up-to-date CV, preferably in the Europass format (see https://europa.eu/europass/);

- (only for EU officials not at the ECA) a document confirming your function group, grade and status as an official.

Successful candidates in an EU open competition must quote the relevant reference number in their CV or cover letter.

Any application received after the deadline or not submitted using the online form provided for this purpose will be rejected.

The selection committee will evaluate applications solely on the basis of the information given in these documents. It may ask candidates to provide supporting evidence for statements made in their applications.  If applicants fail to provide such evidence when it is requested, their applications will be rejected.

To ensure that your application is completed on time, we strongly advise you not to wait until the last few hours to apply. Experience has shown that the system may become overloaded as the deadline approaches.

RECRUITMENT POLICY

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS

In line with ECA’s Diversity and Inclusion policy and Article 1d of the Staff Regulations, the ECA embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We accept applications without discrimination on any grounds, and we take steps to ensure that recruitment is evenly balanced between women and men, as required by Article 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. We also take measures to reconcile working life with family life.

If you require any special arrangements for a specific handicap or disability in order to take part in this selection procedure, please send an email in good time to ECA-Selection@eca.europa.eu.

DATA PROTECTION

The ECA is committed to ensuring that applicants' personal data are processed in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC.

For more information, see our specific privacy statement on recruitment at the following address: https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/Specific_Privacy_Statement_vacancies/Specific_Privacy_Statement_vacancies_EN.PDF