ASEP implements reforms for Greek public sector recruitment

The Greek Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP) is preparing for a period of significant reform regarding public sector recruitment and leadership selection. ASEP President Thanos Papaioannou described the upcoming two years as an ‘absolute storm’ due to the simultaneous management of new recruitment competitions, changes in how department heads are selected, and new responsibilities related to the National School of Public Administration and Local Government.

A major shift in the selection of public officials is underway, moving away from a system based primarily on formal qualifications like degrees and years of service toward a more complex evaluation of practical skills. The new approach aims to identify administrative competence through assessments of decision-making, problem-solving, cooperation, and human resource management.

This evolution mirrors a growing convergence with the methodology used by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). There is an increasing emphasis on cognitive testing and reasoning skills—such as verbal and inductive reasoning—rather than simple rote memorization. These tests require candidates to process complex information and draw logical conclusions within limited timeframes, ensuring that expertise is based on information processing capabilities rather than prior subject-matter knowledge.