EPSO

Internal competitions – Progress for some, barrier for others

EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2023-12-01 Print This Post

*Update 11.04.2024 the AST competition to be made open to AST-SC colleagues was finally published in February, some 3 months behind the original planning*

Original article: Equal opportunities but not for all. When individuals embark on a career within the European Commission, they hold legitimate expectations of progression and growth, regardless of their staff category. Whether one is a permanent official, a temporary employee, or a contract agent, the belief in opportunities for professional development is inherent. Continue reading Internal competitions – Progress for some, barrier for others →

Internal competitions – but for whom?

EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2023-12-01, Professional mobility Print This Post

*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.* Continue reading Internal competitions – but for whom? →

When “EPSOnic” hits the iceberg

Data Protection, EPSO, Events, Newsletter - 2023-11-14 Print This Post

*Update 12.04.2024: On the processing of personal data: the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) European Commission’s use of Microsoft 365 infringes data protection law for EU institutions and bodies.* *Update 21.02.2024, Politico picked up this story.*

Original article: Generation 2004 held a conference on Internal and external competitions: what (legal) action to take? on the 15th of November. Continue reading When “EPSOnic” hits the iceberg →

Language choice in EPSO competitions – beware the consequences of automatic translation

EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2023-11-14, Professional mobility Print This Post

*16.11.2023, thanks to the colleague who confirmed that the disinformation/misinformation issue outlined in footnote 1 has since been fixed.* Original article: For some time already, EPSO is moving towards monolingualism: we are seeing  competitions that are by-and-large English-only. This appears to completely disregard the 16.02.2023 outcome of the EPSO case where the Court of Justice confirmed the unlawfulness of artificially restricting the choice of the second language of competitions to 3 languages: English, French and German. Continue reading Language choice in EPSO competitions – beware the consequences of automatic translation →

Welcome to the Hotel Commission

Cost of living Luxembourg, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Luxembourg, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-11-14 Print This Post

*Update 23.11.2023, thanks to the colleagues who shared their ideas on this situation, we have added their observations below.*

Original article: Luxembourg is a great place to work,  you just have to find somewhere to live first! In its increasingly desperate attempts to do nothing of substance (12 actions for Luxembourg, for example), while still claiming to be working on increasing the attractivity of Luxembourg as a workplace, the Commission now seems to have resorted to the roadmap set out in a classic song. Continue reading Welcome to the Hotel Commission →

Breaking Barriers: AST/SC colleagues may change function group?

Assistants, Brussels, EPSO, Newsletter - 2023-10-10, Professional mobility, Promotions, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories Print This Post

*Update 26.08.2025 the updated time estimates for internal competitions are available under ‘planning’: please note some will take place SOONER than originally stated: don’t miss your chance!*

Original article: While we are thrilled to announce that our efforts have contributed to the announcement by DG HR, that in future, colleagues might have the opportunity to change function groups through internal competitions, it remains to be seen whether this inclusiveness is genuine or something which exists in theory only.  The wording of the announcement is for movement ‘within each function group’ but it does also mention specialised competitions which might include a ‘wider mix of staff categories and function groups’; a measured success.

Continue reading Breaking Barriers: AST/SC colleagues may change function group? →

EPSO update – the show must go on!

Central Staff Committee, Data Protection, EPSO, Newsletter - 2023-07-20 Print This Post

*Update 11.08.2023, September training offered by HR for those who passed written tests.* Original article: Firstly, our EPSO survey is still open: we eagerly await your responses. The more data we have, the clearer the picture we can paint of the exam experience and the more difficult it is to dismiss the evidence as not representative/urban legends/hearsay. Please participate! Now, onto the latest update on the ongoing EPSO issues. The bad news is that nothing has changed so far and everyone who should take action to address the problem has not yet done so. This in spite of the specific actionable issues raised by Generation 2004, all the trade unions and staff associations together (‘Common Front/Front Commun’) as well as the Central Staff Committee. Nevertheless, we do not give up: we continue fighting for your rights and for a robust, fair system that will work, ensure equal opportunities and not push the entire responsibility of known technical failings on the candidates. Continue reading EPSO update – the show must go on! →

The competitions are in dire straits

EPSO, Institutions, Newsletter - 2023-06-30 Print This Post

We’ve written a lot already about the issues related to the remotely-proctored EPSO competitions. When we first raised these issues on your behalf with EPSO[1] and its management board in December 2022 (and in April 2023), we anticipated that they would be addressed (whyever wouldn’t they be, right?). However, to our surprise (and disappointment), not much was done. To add insult to injury, the very same issues we highlighted then continue to be present, even across different providers, in the internal competitions: a situation we find both frustrating and scandalous. Nevertheless, the response continues to be unsatisfactory: ‘everything is fine’ (January, February and May). Continue reading The competitions are in dire straits →

Meeting the Head of Cabinet: it’s all about the money

Cost of living Luxembourg, EPSO, Luxembourg, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2023-04-20, Social Dialogue, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 09.10.2023 please participate in the Commission survey on the environmental impact of teleworking: deadline 11.10.2023. These emmissions must also be counted in greening the Commission!* Original article: Here are the issues we  raised at the OSPs meeting with David Mueller, the Head of Commissioner Hahn’s (budget and administration) Cabinet (15.03.2023). We are all aware that we are reasonably consistently in a series of difficult situations which require additional financial resources and which put the EU Budget under pressure. But we did get an earworm during that meeting: Continue reading Meeting the Head of Cabinet: it’s all about the money →