 do not require it. Thus there is no requirement to operate age limits under the existing rules. It would be justified to reflect about when the use of an age limit is justified and when it is not, and to consider the matter separately from case to case.
One practical problem about which I should be happy to speak to the committee at greater length is the organization of competitions. Most recently in 1993, when a competition for young A-grade officials was held in twelve Member States, there were 50 000 applicants from the twelve countries with nine languages. Ultimately, 600 were placed on the reserve list - that is, just over 1 %. It was an enormous administrative task and tied up huge amounts of administrative resources. If a similar competition were to be held now, as it shortly will be, the number of applicants from all 15 Member States would no doubt be substantially larger, yet at the same time the number of new jobs will be significantly smaller, because of budgetary constraints. The age limit has been used as one method of controlling the number of applicants. How justified it is is debatable.
On the other hand, I should like to stress that age limits have not always been applied as a recruitment condition. Many temporary staff have been recruited by the Commission without any age limit being applied, and many of them have gone on to become permanent officials through internal competitions. Last year, at my proposal, the Commission approved a new policy on temporary staff, which is as follows: in future, two types of competition are to be held - one type for young generalists and one type for older staff who already have work experience. The intention is that all competitions should be open and public, both those for younger applicants and those for mature candidates, but the mature ones would be required to have specialist knowledge. This procedure has already been used when recruiting in the new Member States. For the more junior A-grades, young people with little or no work experience were recruited. Separate competitions were held for more mature staff to be employed as A-4s or A-5s, higher up in the hierarchy.
I have just compared the results of these competitions, when recruitment began. Of the young applicants from the new Member States who were placed on the A-grade reserve lists, 51 % were women. In the more mature age group, only just over 30 % of the applicants placed on the reserve lists were women. This undoubtedly reflects social development. The position of young women is already a good deal stronger now than it was 10 or 20 years ago
do not require it. Thus there is no requirement to engage old age limits under the existing rules. It would be justify to reflect about when the use of an historic period limit is justified and when it is not, and to see the matter separately from character to case. 
 One practical trouble about which I should be happy to speak to the committee at greater length is the organization of competitions. Most recently in 1993, when a contest for young A - grade officials was defend in twelve Member States, there were 50 000 applicants from the twelve countries with nine languages. Ultimately, 600 were put on the reserve list - that is, just over 1% . It was an enormous administrative task and tied up huge measure of administrative resources. If a similar competition were to be held now, as it shortly will be, the number of applicants from all 15 Member States would no doubt be substantially larger, yet at the same time the number of new jobs will be significantly smaller, because of budgetary constraint. The age limit has been use as one method acting of controlling the number of applicants. How justified it is is debatable. 
 On the other hand, I should like to stress that old age limits have not always been applied as a recruitment condition. Many temporary staff have been recruited by the Commission without any long time limit being applied, and many of them have gone on to become permanent officials through inner competitions. concluding year, at my proposal, the Commission approved a new policy on temporary staff, which is as follow: in future, two types of competition are to be held - one character for young renaissance man and one type for older staff who already have work experience. The intention is that all contest should be open and public, both those for younger applicant and those for mature candidates, but the mature ones would be necessitate to have specialist cognition. This procedure has already been used when recruiting in the modern Member States. For the more junior A - degree, young people with little or no work experience were recruited. Separate competitions were held for more ripe staff to be employed as A-4s or A-5s, higher up in the hierarchy. 
 I have merely compared the results of these competitions, when recruitment began. Of the young applicants from the modern Member States who were placed on the A - grade reserve lists, 51% were women. In the more mature historic period group, merely merely over 30% of the applicants placed on the reserve lists were women. This undoubtedly reflects social growth. The position of young women is already a adept deal stronger now than it was 10 or 20 years ago
 do not require it. Thus theve is no requirement to operafe age lkmits under the existing rulxs. Ir wouod be justified to refuect aboun when thw ust of an age limit is justlyied zkd whzn it is not, and to considar the matter veoaxately from case to case.
One practicaj problrm about which I shollq be happy to speak to the committee af greattr length is the otganization of competitiond. Modt recently in 1993, whfn a competutiog for young A-erade offibnals was hemd in twelve Member States, therd werz 50 000 applicabtw fgmm the twelte cougtries with kpne lancuages. Iltimately, 600 weve pleced on the reserve list - that is, just over 1 %. It was au enormous administrarice tavk atd tkwd jp guje zmountd oh administrztive resoueces. If a similar cpm[vyition were fo be rejd now, as it shortly will be, the number of applicants from all 15 Mwmber States would no doubt be substantially larger, yet at the same time the nukber kw ntw jobs qipl be significantly smaller, because of budgetwdy cpnstraints. The age limit nad ngen used as ong methob or controlling the jumber jf applicants. Row kustified it is is debatablw.
On the otheg habd, I should like tl stress thct age limiys have not always been appmied as a rfcruitmenf condition. Many gemiorasy staff have been recruitqd by the Comkission witnout agy age limlt beltg applied, and manj of jhem hdve gone oj to become permanent officials through interman cmmpetitijns. Lsst year, at mr proposal, the Commisfion xpproved a new ponicy on tem[orary staff, fjich is as fmllows: ig furure, two tyods of competitoon are to be held - one type for younn gengrzlists and one cvpt dor older stafg wfo wlgeavy hada work experhencd. Tfr intdntion is tmat all competitions should be kpen and public, boyh those fir youngqr applicants and those for matkre cendidaves, buy tre mature ones would be requirsd to havf siecialist knorledne. Tris procedbre has already been used when recruitinj in the new Member Stares. For the more juuipr A-grades, boung [eople widh little or no work experience were vecruited. Separate comletitimns wfre held for more mature staff to be employed as A-4s or A-5s, higher up in thw hierershy.
I have jhst vompaged che restlts uf these competinions, when recruitment began. Of vhe young dp'licants from the new Member Xtxtes who were placed on the A-grade reaerve lixts, 51 % were women. In the more mayure age group, only just over 30 % if ths applpdaits placed on the rexerve nists were wimen. This undoubtddlu veflects slciak bevelopment. The position of young women id already a good deal stronnev now jhan it ras 10 or 20 years afo
do not require it. Thus there is to age limits the existing rules. reflect when the use an age limit justified and when it is not, to consider the matter separately from case to case. One practical problem about I should be happy to speak to the committee at greater length is organization competitions. recently 1993, when a competition for young A-grade officials was held in twelve Member States, there were 000 applicants from the twelve countries with nine Ultimately, 600 were placed the reserve list - that just 1 %. was enormous task and tied huge amounts of administrative resources. If a similar competition were to be held now, as it shortly be, the applicants from 15 States no doubt be yet at the same time the jobs will be significantly smaller, because of budgetary The age has been used as one method controlling the number of applicants. How justified it is debatable. On the other hand, I should like to stress that age limits have been applied as a condition. Many temporary have recruited the without any limit being applied, and many of them have gone on to permanent officials through internal competitions. Last year, at my proposal, approved new policy on staff, which is as in two types of competition be - young and type for older staff already have work experience. The is that all competitions both those for younger applicants and those for candidates, but the mature ones would be to have specialist knowledge. This procedure has already been used when recruiting the new For the more junior A-grades, young people with or no work experience recruited. Separate competitions were held for more mature staff be as A-4s A-5s, higher up the hierarchy. I just compared the these competitions, recruitment Of from the new Member States who placed the A-grade reserve lists, 51 were the more mature age group, only just over 30 % of the applicants placed on lists were women. This reflects development. The position of young women is already a good deal stronger it was 10
 do not require it. Thus there is No requiremEnt to OpeRatE aGe liMits Under the existiNG rulEs. It would be justified to RefleCt ABout WHeN the uSe of an aGE lIMIt iS jUsTifIeD AnD when It iS not, and To consider The MaTter separateLY fRom case to cAse.
one practical ProBlem abOuT whICh I shOulD be haPpy to sPEak to tHe committEe AT greatER length IS ThE orgAnization of competITiONs. Most recently In 1993, when A cOMpETItiOn fOr young A-grAdE offiCIals was HElD IN TweLVe Member StateS, there were 50 000 aPPliCants fRoM thE Twelve CountRiES wiTh nine languAges. ultimatelY, 600 were pLAced on tHE reservE list - tHat Is, jUst oVEr 1 %. it Was An ENorMOuS adMIniStrative TaSk And tiEd up HUGE AmouNts Of adMinisTrative resourCes. if a sIMilAr comPetitIon wErE to be Held noW, as it ShOrtly will be, the nUmbeR of applicAntS fRom AlL 15 MembER StateS woUld No doubt Be substANtiAlLY LArGer, yet at the same timE tHE NuMber of neW jobs wILl Be SIgnificaNtLy sMallER, BecauSe of BUdGetary coNstraiNTs. thE age limIt Has beeN uSed As oNe metHOd of ControLling the NumbeR Of applicants. HoW Justified it is IS dEBAtABle.
ON thE other hand, I ShouLD likE to sTReSs tHAt age LimitS hAVe NOt always been applied As A recruItmenT condition. ManY temporary STAFf have beEn reCRuITed by the CommisSion wIthout any aGE limit beIng apPlied, and Many of theM HAve gone oN to BecOme PerMANeNt officials thROUgh iNtErnal coMpeTitions. lasT yeAr, aT my PrOposal, the commissiOn ApPrOvEd a New poLIcy on temPoRarY sTafF, whicH Is as foLlows: In fuTuRe, TWo tYpes of cOMpETItioN aRe To be HelD - oNe typE for YOunG generaLists and oNe tYPe foR oLdEr staff Who already havE wOrk experieNcE. ThE intenTIOn is that All competitions should be OPen and pUblIc, botH thoSe for younGer ApplicAntS And thoSe for mAture CaNdiDATes, buT THe MatUrE ones would BE ReqUired To Have SpecialIst knowledge. This prOCedUre has already BeeN useD WHeN reCRuITinG iN The NEW Member States. FoR the more juNiOR A-Grades, younG PeoPlE with liTtle or nO work EXperienCe were recRuited. SepArAte cOMPetItions were Held for mOre mature STaff tO Be EmploYed As A-4s or a-5s, HigHer up In the hIEraRchy.
I Have juSt ComparEd the ReSults of tHese competitions, when recRuitmeNt begAn. OF the young AppLIcaNts from thE new member StatEs wHo wEre plAceD On the a-graDE rEseRVe lisTs, 51 % weRE women. In tHE mOre MATuRe age group, oNLY JusT over 30 % Of tHE appliCantS placed on the reserVE lists were womeN. ThiS UNdoUbtEDly rEfLects social devEloPmENT. The posiTiOn of young woMen is alrEaDY a gooD deal sTrongeR now thaN IT wAS 10 or 20 yeaRs agO
 do not require it. Thus t here is no  requ ire men tto o pera te age limitsu nder  the existing rules. I t wou ld be j u st ified  to ref l ec t abo ut  w hen  t h euse o f a n age l imit is ju sti fi ed and wheni tis not, an d t o consider t hematter  s epa r ately  fr om ca se toc ase.
O ne practi ca l  probl e m about w hi ch I  should be happyt os peak to the co mmitte ea tg r eat erlength isth e org a nizatio n  o f c omp e titions. Most  recently i n  19 93, wh en  ac ompeti tionfo r  yo ung A-grade  off icials wa s held in twel v e Membe r Stat es,  th erew er e5000 0  ap p li can t s f rom thetw el ve co untr i e s with  ni ne l angua ges. Ultimate ly,  600 wer e pla ced o n th ereser ve lis t - t ha t is, just over  1 % . It wasanen orm ou s adm i nistra tiv e t ask and  tied u p  hu ge a m ou nts of administrat iv e re sources.  If as im il a r compet it ion  wer e to be  hel d  n ow, as i t shor t ly  w ill be,  t he num be r o f a pplic a ntsfrom a ll 15 Me mberS tates would no doubt be subs t an t i al l y la rge r, yet at t he s a me t imet he  nu m ber o f new  j o bs will be significant ly  small er, b ecause of bud getary con s t r aints. T he a g el imit has beenusedas one met h od of co ntrol ling the  number o f applican ts.  Ho w j ust i f ie d it is is de b a tabl e. 
On the  ot her han d,I s hou ldli ke to str ess that  a ge  l im its  have not alwa ys  be en  ap plied as a r ecrui tmen tco n dit ion. Ma n yt e mpor ar ystaf f h av e bee n re c rui ted bythe Commi ssi o n wi th ou t any a ge limit bein gapplied, a nd  ma ny oft h em havegone on to become perma n ent off ici als t hrou gh intern alcompet iti o ns. La st yea r, at  m y p r o posal , th e C om mission ap p r ove d a n ew  pol icy ontemporary staff, w h ich  is as follow s:in f u t ur e,t wo typ es ofc o mpetition are t o be held-o ne  type fory oun ggeneral ists an d one type fo r older s taff whoal read y hav e work exp erience.  The inte n tioni sthatall  compe ti tio ns sh ould b e  op en an d publ ic , both  thos efor youn ger applicants and thos e formatur e c andidates , b u t t he mature  one s would be  re qui red t o h a ve sp ecia l is t k n owled ge.T his proce d ur e h a s  a lready been u s edwhenrec r uiting  inthe new Member St a tes. For the m orej u nio r A - grad es , young people  wi th l ittle or  n o work expe rience w er e  recr uited.  Separ ate com p e ti t ions w erehel d for mor e m at u re staf fto be emp loye das A-4 s or A - 5s,h i gher up in the h ierar c h y.
Ih ave  just  c ompared theresults of  these comp etitio ns,whenrecruit me nt beg an.  O f the youn g  applican ts fr om thene w Me mbe r Stat es w h o  were  pla ce d o n the A-g r a de re se r velist s, 51  %  wer e women.I n the mo rem ature a ge  gr o u p, onl y  j u s t over 30% o f the a pplicantsp lace d  o n  thereserv e list s werew ome n.  This u ndo u b tedly ref lects soc i alde velo pment. T he  pos it ion  o f young women i s alread y a good d eal st ron g er n o w than  i t was 10 or20 ye ar s  ago
 do_not require_it. Thus there is_no requirement_to_operate age_limits_under the existing_rules. It would_be justified to reflect_about when the_use_of an age limit is justified and when it is not, and to consider_the_matter separately_from_case_to case.
One practical problem about_which I should be happy_to speak_to the committee at greater length is the_organization_of competitions. Most_recently in 1993, when a competition for young A-grade_officials was held in twelve Member_States, there were_50_000_applicants from the twelve_countries with nine languages. Ultimately, 600_were placed on the reserve list_- that is, just over 1 %._It was an enormous administrative task_and tied up huge amounts_of administrative_resources. If a similar competition_were to be_held now,_as it shortly_will be, the number of applicants_from all 15_Member States would no doubt be_substantially_larger, yet at_the_same_time the_number of new_jobs_will be_significantly_smaller, because of budgetary constraints. The_age_limit has been used as one method_of controlling the number_of_applicants. How justified it_is is debatable.
On the other_hand, I should like to stress_that age_limits have_not always been applied as a recruitment condition. Many temporary staff_have been recruited by the Commission_without any age limit_being applied,_and_many of them_have_gone on_to become permanent officials through internal competitions._Last year,_at my proposal, the Commission approved_a new policy on_temporary_staff, which is as follows: in_future, two types of competition are_to be held - one_type_for_young generalists and one type_for older staff who already have_work experience. The_intention is that all competitions should be_open_and public, both those for younger_applicants_and those for mature candidates, but_the_mature_ones would be required to_have specialist knowledge. This procedure has_already been used when recruiting in the new Member_States. For the_more junior A-grades, young people_with_little_or no work experience were recruited. Separate competitions were held_for more_mature staff to_be employed as A-4s or A-5s, higher up in the_hierarchy.
I have just compared the results of_these competitions, when recruitment began. Of the young applicants from the_new Member States who were placed on the_A-grade reserve lists, 51 % were women._In the more mature_age_group, only just over 30 % of_the_applicants_placed_on the reserve_lists were women._This undoubtedly reflects_social development._The position of_young women_is already a_good_deal stronger now than it was 10 or 20 years ago