Berlin is taking steps to address the shortage of German officials in EU institutions, where they currently make up only 9.1% of the higher service roles, well below the internal guideline of 14.3%. This disparity highlights a significant gap in representation for Germany, the EU's largest member state. The Foreign Office is actively seeking participants for the Concours, a competitive examination for recruitment into EU positions, to increase the number of German officials in Brussels.

The article points out that while Germany exerts considerable influence in EU institutions, such as holding the presidency of the European Commission and key positions within parliamentary leadership, the lack of German representation is concerning. The issue partially stems from the unfamiliarity of potential candidates with the Concours system, which is a structured process that recruits new faces into EU bureaucracy. The German government is therefore keen to reform perceptions and encourage applications from qualified individuals.

In conclusion, the call for more German officials reflects a broader strategy of seeking greater involvement in European governance and ensuring that Germany's influence is matched by its representation within EU institutions. This move aims to rectify the existing imbalances and make the EU’s decision-making bodies more reflective of its largest member state’s populace.