r/EUCareers • u/Rihiplibublabu • 4d ago

Disqualified from EPSO job because I used e-ID to sign in Single Candidate Portal

I just got disqualified from an EPSO application, and I’m honestly shocked at how unfair the process is.

When I created my EU Login, I used Estonian e-ID, one of the most secure and EU-endorsed identity systems out there. Apparently after I had already signed up and applied my application, it appeared that EPSO’s rules forbid using any third party login option (Google, Facebook, eID, etc.) when creating an EU Login. Because of this, my application was rejected after waiting a month, and after immediately contacting, they told me the decision is final and I am disqualified.

This means:

-All the effort I put into preparing the application is wasted.
-They don’t allow transferring applications between accounts.
-Even though I have 10+ years of professional experience in my field, they’d rather throw my application away over a user experience flaw in their login system.

What makes this even worse is the UX design of the EU Login page itself. If third-party sign-ins aren’t allowed, why even present them as options? For a platform recruiting across Europe, this is just poor UX and punishes candidates who are following a logical and secure login path.

It feels like EPSO is more eager to disqualify good candidates on technicalities than to actually find and recruit experienced professionals.

Just posting this as a warning.
If you ever apply for an EPSO job, do not use eID, Google, or Facebook login for EU Login. Create it with plain email + password only,otherwise your application will be thrown out.

Has anyone else been disqualified like this? Did you find any way to appeal, or is it always “final decision, too bad”?

EDIT:
- I have sent an inquiry to the Estonian Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs (about e-ID and eIDAS) - waiting for the answer.

59 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

28

u/quark42q 4d ago

You have the option to complain to the European ombudsperson.

1

u/SmolBobb 3d ago

Definitely this!

1

u/Low_Monitor2443 3d ago

The EU ombudsman has broad discretion to select the cases.... Been there, done that.

11

u/Any_Strain7020 4d ago edited 3d ago

EU login is used as an authentication tool for far more purposes than just accessing the Single Candidate Portal.

The limitation imposed by EPSO seems quite difficult to comprehend.

Their instructions only cover cases when the applicant doesn't already have an EU login. Say I do, and it was created with eID. Then I'm good? Based on their instructions, yes.

In that case, what difference does it make?

3

u/Low_Monitor2443 3d ago

Send a DSR to the EC' DPO exercising your rights under the EUDPR (GDPR RGPD for EU institutions) request all the data they have about you obtained from you or third parties (this is important as is the reason to disqualify you), quote the Pankki cases regarding logs, c-487 regarding obtaining a copy of database, etc.

Read the EDPB' guideline in right of access before sending the DSR and request all your data: logs, activity, forms filled, etc.

Once you have all the data maybe you can take further actions.

Hope it helps.

1

u/Artistic-Resolve-912 3d ago

And you're trying to achieve...?

2

u/Low_Monitor2443 3d ago

The OP can verify the lawfulness or unlawfulness of EC/EPSO' commission processing activities. This is the main purpose of the right of access.

2

u/Any_Strain7020 3d ago

Wouldn't all that data already be available to you under

https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/cas/userdata/myAccount.cgi

?

2

u/Low_Monitor2443 3d ago

Well, very good point indeed. ☝️☝️ You can send the DSR and then compare the reply with the data from the website.

2

u/Low_Monitor2443 2d ago

There is no meaningful data on that URL. So go with the DSR.

1

u/Rihiplibublabu 14h ago

Thank you, did that!

2

u/certifiedamberjay 3d ago

me too, I asked them on Tuesday to provide the reason as described in the Notice, I think under point 6. they have a section precisely on disqualification, I have not heard yet from them

1

u/Rihiplibublabu 2d ago

Good to know I am not the only one, so I can also mention it in the letter to the EU ombudsman. Also when I read the point 6. (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/3565/oj) then I do not actually read it out here.

2

u/KL_boy 3d ago

Welcome to the bureaucracy of the EU. If you are thinking about efficiency, things that make sense, smooth workflow, making things better for the user, etc, then you are in the wrong place. That is the self selecting right there.

1

u/Extension_Arugula157 4d ago

When did you create the account?

2

u/Rihiplibublabu 4d ago

Somewhere around 20th of July. I can try to find the exact date from e-mails but is there any difference?

1

u/EuroBubbleT 4d ago

Damn, that sucks big time, sorry for you :( Using EU login app as 2FA is allowed, right?

1

u/Rihiplibublabu 4d ago edited 3d ago

Yes it is, but it does not make any difference anymore as I created my account wrongly in first place.

1

u/General_Quarter_4311 3d ago edited 2d ago

What do you mean by 'after I had already signed up and applied my application, it appeared that EPSO’s rules forbid using any third party login option'?

Option A: These rules were already published when you applied, but you had not seen them. In this case you didn't follow the rules, therefore you were disqualified. 

Option B: These rules were not already published when you applied. In this case you might have grounds to challenge your disqualification.

2

u/Rihiplibublabu 2d ago edited 2d ago

If you don’t mind, here’s a little test for you: how many steps (or clicks) do you have to go through before you find the information about this specific rule?

- Here is the official job offers landing page: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/job-opportunities/assistants-graphic-design-and-visual-content-production-0

____

So, to answer your question: I didn’t know this rule even existed because I never opened an article called “How to create an EU Login account.” (You can find it here if you scroll down a bit:
https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/single-candidate-portal-new-online-portal-your-applications). It could be there before, it could not, because there is no "published date" on this article.

I simply signed up with my identity card, and the portal let me do it. The portal also let me submit my application without any errors. I would have really appreciated an instant warning message that stopped me from submitting, because then I would have had the chance to redo my account with another email or fix the issue.

1

u/Adventurous-Salad777 3d ago

its unfortunate but it's ignorance and incompetence, two common traits of EU institutions with regard to IT systems and processes..

0

u/dvopel 4d ago

I log in using Apple’s saved passwords, do you think this would constitute a 3p sign in?

2

u/lestofante 3d ago

If it store the credential and fill it for you (a password wallet), then they have no way to knowing.

0

u/Rihiplibublabu 3d ago

Seems like so, but I am definite not a right person to trust here.