We are not (yet!) in an election period, we know! Let’s, however, talk once about us, about what we are doing to make 2026 a year of Generation 2004 members: “reconnecting, engaging, and building the active community that makes Generation 2004 strong”, as set out in our Plan for 2026.
One of the tools to reach such political objective is the revamp of the Steering Committee operation. Do you know that we dispose of a Steering Committee within our organisation? Since our foundation in 2012, the Generation 2004 Bylaws foresees an advisory body. Its legal boundaries are currently defined at section 5 of the 2024 Bylaws, which have amended the 2012 Bylaws and on Implementing Rule 7. The revised legal framework gives a boost to its operation by modifying the conception and design of this advisory body, whose main purpose is to feed with thoughts, ideas and proposals the political action of the staff association. Its action depends simultaneously on the engagement of its members (elected and ad hoc – those that apply for being part of it) and of the requests from the Board and General Assembly).
The Steering Committee has recently approved its Action Plan for 2026-2028. The Plan is based on three pillars: forum for discussion/think-tank, subcommittees and consultive body relating to the Generation 2004 legal framework. The Steering Committee acts simultaneously as a forum for discussion, a ‘think thank’ and a mandatory advisory body for the establishment or amendment of internal rules relating to the implementation of its bylaws. The time limit is the end of the mandate (i.e. until the election of a new Board in April 2028).
By initiative of its members, or under request by the Board or by the General Assembly, the Steering Committee is empowered to issue political operational guidelines, recommendations, and opinions. Its internal functioning favours the participation of its members. Whenever reputed necessary works of the subcommittees may be open to all Generation 2004 members based on a general call of interest. Forums for discussion organised on specific topics are also open to all Generation members. The working method remains flexible. The full achievement of the objectives depends on the critical mass to be gathered and subsequently channelled to discussions, to the production of concrete political proposals and to the discover of new policy angles. The active participation of members in the Steering Committee and subcommittees meetings is essential to the implementation of the Plan.
Acting as a think tank it is charged to develop ideas and give advice on a particular subject(s). Acting as a forum for discussion it shall promote debates helping to test out ideas, gather feedback, and discover new policy angles. Under these tools we want to promote discussions by means of debates/conferences/meetings inter alia on the following:
- EPSO-related structural challenges the growing concerns surrounding official missions and the Amex-related arrangements
- Career perspectives and mobility policies
- Working conditions and institutional balance within the EU civil service Governance and transparency concerns affecting the European Schools
- Reform of the EU Delegation network
- Talent management
- Leadership competencies & accountability
- JSIS/RECAM
These are the kind of issues where this advisory body can truly bring meaningful added value and help shape coherent positions to be carried forward by Generation 2004 representatives in discussions with the administration.
Subcommittees are an institutional tool at the disposal of the Steering Committee. They are created in ad-hoc basis to work on specific points of interest for the staff association.
On 25 June 2026, we have decided to set up six subcommittees on the following matters:
- Subcommittee on the (possible) reform of the staff regulations
- Subcommittee on career prospects for Contract Agents
- Subcommittee on career prospects for Assistants/Assistants-Secretarial Clerks
- Subcommittee on Generation 2004 identity
- Subcommittee on EU attractiveness (geographical balance)
- Subcommittee on the use of AI within the Commission/other EU bodies and impacts on the way to work and job profiles.
In this context, it is important to ensure that the Steering Committee remains a forum for substantive and forward-looking debate, accompanied by an equally strong ambition to focus our collective efforts on the major challenges currently affecting EU staff. A strong advisory body should help elevate the political and strategic reflection of the organisation — not narrow its scope.
It is here YOU SHOULD STEP IN (even if you’re reading this article and you are not Generation 2004 member) by making us aware of facts, topics, matters that requires our attention, debate, and reflection. To this end you may write to us and let us know YOUR STORY, FACT, REFLECTION, PROPOSAL.
As Generation 2004 member you will soon find in this website an invitation to express your interest in taking part in the works of the subcommittees as listed above.
It is time TO RECONNECT WITH YOU and renewing the activity of the subcommittees by your active involvement in a moment where the LARGE-SCALE REVIEW is starting to be disclosed. Your engagement is part of our collectively success and denial of changes weakening the EU public administration.
