*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
EPSO
EPSO competition cancelled – is this really the least-bad option?
*Update 21.02.2024, Politico picked up this story.* Original article: Here’s the story so far on the revamped, updated and not-quite-ready-for-general-release rollercoaster ride of recruitment to the European institutions that was AST/154/22. From the launch of this competition (22.09.2022) to the opening of an ombudsman inquiry (OI/1/2023/VS, 15.03.2023[1]) and on to the unexpected (and abrupt) decision of the EPSO director to cancel the whole thing (31.03.2023), Generation 2004 and all OSPs have been inundated with requests for help on the many and various issues encountered by candidates (covering everything from technical aspects to poor instructions to odd and alarming experiences), and it’s not finished yet! Continue reading EPSO competition cancelled – is this really the least-bad option?
MCQ and written tests: training
*Update 08.09.2023 EPSO intends to use automated proctoring.**Update 17.03.2023 Ombudsman opens inquiry into how EU staff recruitment test was carried out.* *Update 07.03.2023, here is the presentation.* Original article: Join us for some training in preparation for the forthcoming internal competitions multiple choice questions (MCQ) and written tests [1]. We will analyse all the key aspects. As regards the MCQ, we will see a study methodology, go through the lessons learnt from previous competitions, and recommend materials and topics to cover the knowledge you need. Continue reading MCQ and written tests: training
EPSO changes and *now obsolete offer of* urgent legal assistance
Note that the article below is now obsolete. It predates the cancellation of EPSO/AST/154/22). We have not yet agreed on collective or Common Front action on the cancellation itself.
Continue reading EPSO changes and *now obsolete offer of* urgent legal assistance
Social Dialogue, or the big hypocrisy: do as I say, not as I do!
The Commission recently presented an initiative to strengthen social dialogue with actions at both national and EU level. Generation 2004 agrees that this is necessary (long overdue) and we agree also with the inspiring statements reproduced below. Unfortunately, we observe that, in spite of all these nice words and good intentions, the corresponding follow-up action appears to simply vanish when it comes to social dialogue within the Commission itself: the dialogue with the staff committee (CSC/LSCs): the statutory body elected by staff and the trade unions and staff associations (OSPs). Continue reading social dialogue, or the big hypocrisy: do as I say, not as I do!
The ongoing EPSO transformation
*Note that the original article below predates the cancellation of EPSO/AST/154/22). We have not yet agreed on collective or Common Front action on the cancellation itself.* Continue reading The ongoing EPSO transformation
It happened to us! The EPSO rollercoaster
*Note that the article below predates the cancellation of EPSO/AST/154/22). We have not yet agreed on collective or Common Front action on the cancellation itself. Continue reading It happened to us! The EPSO rollercoaster
2022 internal competitions, where are we?
*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 2022 internal competitions, where are we?
Help! My languages are in the wrong order!
*Update 09.10.2025 we see that the internal competitions to allow flexibility in terms of which language is used as the first language (see p.6 of the FAQs).*
Original article: You asked, we acted! A number of colleagues got in touch with us to ask for our help with regards to the internal competitions. Continue reading Help! My languages are in the wrong order!
Workshop-webinar: EPSO/AD/401/22 AD6 energy, climate and environment
Generation 2004 in cooperation with the company YSE will offer a workshop-webinar on the application process for the competition: EPSO/AD/401/22 – Administrators (AD 6) in the fields of energy, climate and environment. We will focus on practical aspects of the application, how to describe work experience, answer the questions of the talent screener and discuss the most common mistakes made by the candidates. At the end, 30 min of Q&A are for your questions. Continue reading Workshop-webinar: EPSO/AD/401/22 AD6 energy, climate and environment
