Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to invite you to a free info session for the EPSO AD6 and AST2 competitions. You will get tips and tricks on how to fill in the application, as well as advice on how to tackle the different parts of the exam. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the conference. Continue reading Free conference: EPSO AD6 and AST2 competitions – 23 October 2026
All-staff lunchtime conference: Large-Scale Review – make your views heard
All colleagues are invited to the all-staff lunchtime conference on Friday 16 October, from 12:30 to 14:00, to share views on the Large-Scale Review (LSR) ahead of the upcoming follow-up discussions with Commissioner Serafin.
Hosted by Marcela Valkova, Chair of Generation 2004, this meeting will be an opportunity for colleagues across the European Commission to express their concerns, perspectives and expectations regarding the recommendations linked to the LSR. Continue reading All-staff lunchtime conference: Large-Scale Review – make your views heard
Romanian legislation puts EU staff on leave from the national administration at risk: Generation 2004 calls for urgent Commission action
A recent change in Romanian legislation has created serious uncertainty for Romanian nationals working for EU institutions, bodies and agencies while formally remaining on leave from the Romanian public administration. With a national deadline approaching, affected colleagues need clear legal guidance and timely support.
In a communication to staff, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Human Resources (DG HR) has highlighted the issue and confirmed that the Commission is assessing the scope of the Romanian provisions, their possible implications under EU law and the need for clarification from the Romanian authorities. Continue reading Romanian legislation puts EU staff on leave from the national administration at risk: Generation 2004 calls for urgent Commission action
Large Scale Review: Will the Commission finally recognise burnout as a structural capacity risk and do something about it?
Generation 2004 asks that the Commission invests in the human capacity of its staff, giving particular attention to mental health awareness and burnout prevention in the Large-Scale Review. In addition, Generation 2004 asks that reintegration to work after long term absences is tailored to the needs and specific circumstances of the member of staff with support from career guidance and psychosocial services, allowing the change of teams or DGs if needed.
In addition to introducing a continuous AI supported ‘brain gym’ into the fabric of our daily work to build an AI augmented force as indicated in the 2nd Recommendation on Innovation and AI of the Large-Scale Review, the Commission should invest in the mental resilience of staff. The Commission should ensure that staff can be functionally proficient and recover quickly when exposed to unexpected crises before expecting it to be agile. Continue reading Large Scale Review: Will the Commission finally recognise burnout as a structural capacity risk and do something about it?
Commission’s Mediation Service: is it a success story?
Context
The Mediation Service was initially created in 1977. It was the basis for mediation between the administration and individual staff members for more than 20 years.
In 2002, the role of the Mediation Service was reinforced by Commission Decision C(2002) 601 of 25 February 2002. The Mediation Service was empowered to issue general recommendations. In doing so, the Mediation Service was assigned a twofold task: on the one hand, to facilitate the settlement, in individual cases, of any difficulty that may arise in the context of conflicts at work or concerning the rights and obligations of staff and, on the other hand, to identify systemic or structural factors that if left unaddressed could fuel similar problems or difficulties to arise in the future and recommend possible courses of action. Continue reading Commission’s Mediation Service: is it a success story?
Social dialogue on Junior Professional Programme (JPP)
On 10 September trade unions of the Commission met in the framework of social dialogue procedure in order to give their opinion on changes proposed by the Administration to the JPP decision.
Just to remind you that JPP is a scheme that offers temporary AD5-level posts to early-career professionals with maximum 3 years of relevant professional experience and aimed at high-potential junior professionals at the start of their EU policy or administrative career. The programme is designed to give participants hands-on professional experience in the EU institutions, often through policy, operational, analytical or coordination work. Continue reading social dialogue on Junior Professional Programme (JPP)
Interim contract: to take or not to take!
In 2023, we published an article on frequently asked questions (FAQs) and sources on interims (Interim staff at the Commission: FAQs). Today, we are revisiting the topic based on concrete situations where financial rights of some staff members had been adversely impacted by the fact they started to work under an interim contract in a transitory period preceding their recruitment as contract/temporary agent (CA/TA). This may also apply to a new official (permanent staff) which had an interim contract or several interim contracts preceding his or her recruitment as official of the Europeans institutions, agencies or bodies. Continue reading Interim contract: to take or not to take!
European Baccalaureate rule change may create serious problems for families
A recent change to the European Schools’ rules for the European Baccalaureate (BAC) could have major consequences for students and for European Commission staff whose children attend these schools.
Until now, if a student missed a written BAC exam for a justified medical reason, they could take a substitute exam during the normal BAC session. This made it possible for students to complete the BAC in June, as usual, and move on to university in the next academic year Continue reading European Baccalaureate rule change may create serious problems for families
Thinking about retirement? Plan well in advance
When approaching retirement, you might want to have less stress and enjoy the remaining workdays. This could involve taking longer breaks, being more flexible and work fewer hours to gradually transit into the new well-deserved lifestyle. You might also want to explore new passions and hobbies, visit old family members, or plan a move back to your home country. There are also colleagues who start a new career outside of the EU institutions, but in any case, it is important to plan your future.
When you have completed at least 10 years of active service or reached pensionable age, you are entitled to a pension. The key factor is your date of entry into service under the staff regulations, but there can be specific situations affecting retirement rights, for example, changes in status during a career, transfers between EU bodies, previous service that is recognised and invalidity retirement. Continue reading Thinking about retirement? Plan well in advance
Whistleblowing at the Commission: stronger rules, but will staff really be protected?
On 25 June 2026, Generation 2004 took part in the first social-dialogue meeting on the Commission’s draft Decision revising its existing Whistleblowing Guidelines.
The revision is intended to update the current framework and ensure consistency with Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law, while taking account of developments since the last review in 2019. The Commission is also proposing to replace the existing Guidelines with a Commission Decision, giving the framework a stronger legal status.
We welcome the initiative. But for Generation 2004, the key question is not simply whether the Commission has updated its rules.
The real question is whether a colleague who reports wrongdoing will actually feel safe afterwards. Continue reading Whistleblowing at the Commission: stronger rules, but will staff really be protected?
