Selection procedure
Article 3
1. SNEs shall be selected according to an open and transparent procedure decided in accordance with Article 42. 2. Without prejudice to Article 2(4), SNEs shall be seconded to secure for the Agency the services of persons of the highest standards of ability, efficiency, integrity and merit. They shall be seconded on as wide a geographical basis as possible from among nationals of the participating Member States. The participating Member States and the Agency shall cooperate to ensure, as far as possible, a balance between men and women and observe the principle of equal opportunities. 3. A call for the expression of interest shall be sent to the Permanent Representations of the participating Member States, Missions of the third countries, the organisation or entity, as appropriate, and published on the Agency website. The call shall indicate the descriptions of the posts, the selection criteria and the deadline for the submission of applications. Candidates for an SNE post must be sponsored by their national authorities, organisation or entity. Confirmation is required in the form of a letter of sponsorship addressed to the Agency, as far as possible by the closing date for the receipt of applications and in any case not later than the recruitment date. 4. In the case of cost-free SNEs and national experts in professional training (hereinafter referred to as ‘NEPTs’), the Agency may decide that an SNE shall be selected without following the selection procedures set out in paragraphs 1 and 2. 5. The secondment of experts shall be subject to the specific requirements and budgetary capacity of the Agency. 6. The Agency shall create an individual file for the SNE. That file shall contain relevant administrative information.