BackOn 6th of August 2014, the European Ombudsman closed an inquiry into a complaint against the European Commission.
The case concerned a visually impaired person wishing to become a freelance interpreter for the EU administration. He was concerned, however, that he had not been allowed to sit the freelance interpreter test three times under conditions which took account of his disability. The Commission, which is responsible for the Test Office organising the tests, explained that there is no right to sit the test three times. The Ombudsman accepted the Commission's explanation and concluded that there had been no maladministration by the Inter-institutional Test Office.
In her further remarks, the European Ombudsman Ms. Emily O'Reilly, however, argued that "the Commission should, when inviting an applicant with special needs for a test, contact the applicant as soon as possible to get a full understanding of his or her needs and to discuss possible technical solutions related thereto; and (...) should also update the Ombudsman as regards whether the question about applicants' special needs has now been included in the online registration form."
For more information, please visit the European Ombudsman's website.
Source: European Ombudsman, EUROPE
