Since last July, the Staff Representation has reinforced its attention to the specific situation of colleagues working in the European Commission Representations through a 25% secondment dedicated to these issues. The colleague working on this, an elected member of Generation 2004, is Nicolette Camilleri.
This reflects a clear priority: to gain a better understanding of the realities of working in the Representations and to ensure that the concerns of colleagues are more systematically considered in staff representation work.
The Representations have several characteristics that make their situation distinct from those in other services. AD and AST colleagues are subject to rotation, there is a comparatively high proportion of Contract Agents, including most Type A colleagues, and staff work at a geographical distance from Brussels, which makes good communication and regular exchange especially important. At the same time, the Representations and regional Offices differ greatly in size, structure and local context. Their diversity means that solutions need to be adapted to realities on the ground rather than based on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Against this background, the aim of the secondment is not only to follow staff matters affecting the Representations, but also to help build closer and more regular contact with colleagues working there. We want to listen better, identify needs more systematically, and ensure that the day-to-day experience of staff in the Representations is better reflected in discussions with the administration.
In practical terms, this work includes helping to organise regular virtual meetings bringing together staff and management in the Representations. These exchanges are intended to foster dialogue, improve mutual understanding and contribute to finding concrete ways of improving working conditions. They should also help us develop a clearer picture of the issues faced across the network, while staying attentive to the specific circumstances of each Representation.
This effort is also grounded in direct knowledge of having worked both in Brussels and in a Representation, which can help bridge perspectives and highlight practical issues linked to distance, communication and local working realities. More broadly, it reflects our commitment to being present for colleagues wherever they work, and to ensuring that staff in the Representations feel heard, supported and fully included.
