In a recently published report by EurActiv, it was revealed that almost half of the candidates who applied for the European Union's employment competition are Italians. Out of the total 175,000 registered candidates, approximately 80,000 are from Italy aiming for high-paying lifetime positions in the EU public service. In contrast, only 382 Estonians registered for the contest, highlighting a significant disparity in applications between Italy and Estonia.

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), which is responsible for organizing recruitment competitions for EU institutions, announced that the exam attracted a total of 174,922 candidates. This figure surpasses initial expectations set during the recruitment process, which began in February. The last such competition was held six years ago, indicating a high level of interest and perhaps a necessity for employment in the EU public service among applicants, particularly those from Italy.

One EU official expressed concern over the implications of this overwhelming number of candidates, raising two primary issues: the logistical challenge of managing such a large pool of applicants and the potential difficulties the European Commission may face in ensuring a fair and effective hiring process. This situation reflects not only the competitive nature of EU employment but also raises questions about the hiring criteria and how to maintain a diverse workforce within EU institutions, particularly with such a strong showing from one nationality.