First of all, happy international women’s day to you all. At Generation 2004 we endeavour to push for equality year round: for us it’s more than a once-a-year performative applause decorated with flowers[1]. But why is a women’s day still needed? Surely there’s little left to do, right? Why is this still even an issue? Well, progress on this topic has not just stalled, it’s going backwards.
Continue reading International Women’s Day: haphazard progress?
*Update 18.03 we’ve seen the undated FAQs and apply it to [*] below. ‘If you wish to be notified about the publication of an internal competition, you have the possibility to subscribe to the administrative notices’ alerts via this link: Administrative Notices – message alert system.’*
Original article: Opportunities Announced, But Do They Truly Deliver? The European Commission has announced its internal competitions planning for 2025-2027, introducing more frequent competitions and cross-category mobility up to AD10. This appears to be a positive development at first glance, but a deeper analysis of eligibility criteria and staff demographics raises serious concerns about how inclusive and effective these competitions will be in addressing long-standing career progression issues. Continue reading Internal Competitions 2025-2027: A Career Breakthrough or a Tactical Diversion?
What is GIPS Article 13 (CA screening) and who can benefit from it ? Article 13 of the general implementing provisions (GIPs) for Article 79(2) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) provides a pathway for Contract Agents engaged under article 3a of the CEOS [*] to advance to a higher function group (so-called CA screening), provided they meet certain conditions. Continue reading Unlocking Career progression for Contract Agents: untapped potential of GIPS Article 13
Changes in tasks and/or working environment’ (‘mobility’) are inevitable in any workplace, and in organisations the size of the Commission and the external action service (EEAS, with over 144 Delegations around the world) these are seldom user-friendly processes. As often happens within the institutions, the term ‘mobility’ itself covers a huge range of diverse exercises with different rules regarding the level of obligation, the frequency and to whom those rules apply. Continue reading Mobility Paradox: Forced to Move or Stuck in Place?
*Update 14.03.2025: here are the recording and the slides of today’s conference. *Update 10.03.2025: here are the recording and the slides of the conference *Update 07.03.2025: 14 March session, will be about future competitions, not the current ones. Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you, additonnally to our previous offer for which you can find the recording and the slides here, free Webinars for Internal competitions – 1) Last push before the internal competition exams, 2) lessons learned from previous competitions & do’s and dont’s. Continue reading Free Webinar: Internal competitions –AD5 – AD6 – AST2 – AST-SC2: Last push and state of play
Now that the 2 work groups for AD5 Translators competitions already scheduled are fully booked, we are still receiving great training demand for the EPSO/AD/414-421/24 AD5 Translators competition in 8 languages. With only 1 week ahead until the first exam, we decided with our training consultant Yasemos to provide self-study exam packages for practising the different tests for those who couldnot join the work groups. Continue reading Additional Training Offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Translators
*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not otherwise skewed to reduce participation. We update and republish the questions below to accommodate this change.*
We will add the presentation from our February 2025 event here and below you’ll find an extended version of a frequently asked questions (FAQs) based on the questions asked there.
If there’s something here that you can add to, that you’d like more information on or that you’d like to challenge (we’re open to all input!) then please get in touch: we’re here for you ! Thanks very much to all who attended! Continue reading Secretaries and Clerks (AST/SC) FAQs
The mental health and well-being of children in European Schools (ESS) should be a top priority for the European Schools as well as for the European institutions. Nevertheless, many parents within our community have raised serious concerns about the lack of psychological support, insufficient supervision, and how the system fails to address emotional distress among students. Continue reading Protecting Our Children’s Mental Health: Urgent Reforms Needed in European Schools
An already-outdated policy in a new era of work? The need for teleworking change, especially within the External Action Service (EEAS) and Brussels (‘HQ’) rules. In a world where remote work has proven not only feasible but often preferable, the teleworking and teleworking from anywhere (TWA) policies remain a little too rigid and, to many, stuck in the past.
