EEAS

EEAS: Improving the Promotion/reclassification System

EEAS, Institutions, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Promotions, reclassification, Working conditions Print This Post

The yearly promotion/reclassification exercise within the European External Action Service (EEAS) is a crucial moment for all staff, whether officials, or non-permanent staff as it directly impacts career development and recognition of merit. The final lists for the 2024 exercises were published 07.11.2024. However, Generation 2004 has observed persistent concerns regarding the lack of transparency, predictability, and security in the current promotion system. We have made similar obervations about the promotions/reclassifications system in the Commission[1].

Continue reading EEAS: Improving the Promotion/reclassification System →

Duty Calls: Navigating the Challenges of Standby Duty at EEAS

EEAS, Features, Institutions, Newsletter - 2024-10-28, Standby duty, Working conditions Print This Post

Standby duty sounds straightforward enough — a formal, organised service, available to respond to well-defined emergencies within a specific timeframe. But for many staff, including those in the External Action Service (EEAS), the reality is far from simple. Theoretically, within the EEAS at least, those colleagues on standby duty have access to designated Duty Phones—reliable devices meant to keep them connected during emergencies.

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The shark attack!

allowances, EEAS, Newsletter - 2024-09-25, place of origin Print This Post

In the past few months, Generation 2004 published several articles on the Court of Justice’s April 2024 judgement on the place of origin. The issue contested was the 2014 staff regulations reform which moved all places of origin located outside the EU to the capital city of the staff Member State. The colleagues won their case, reinstating the real place of origin. We provided an analysis on repercussions on staff and mentioned that Generation 2004 was in close contact with the administration to mitigate as much as possible the negative effects of the judgement that has negatively affected approximately 300 colleagues. Continue reading The shark attack! →

The practices must change – Standby duty & use of private phones for business purposes in Delegations

Data Protection, EEAS, EEAS Special Edition Newsletter June 2024, Newsletter - 2024-06-13, Standby duty, Working conditions Print This Post

After we exposed that the European Commission was infringing data protection law, many colleagues, particularly in Delegations, contacted us to share their experiences. They were not only ‘encouraged’ to use their private mobile phones for work purposes, also their standby duty tasks were going too far.  Continue reading The practices must change – Standby duty & use of private phones for business purposes in Delegations →

Conference on standby duty and use of private phones for work purposes in Delegations April 2024

Data Protection, EEAS, Events, Local Agents, Outside the Union Print This Post

Generation 2004 is here for you, regardless of where you are! We would like to invite you to our virtual meeting to discuss standby duty and the use of private phones for work in Delegations. Please participate in any of our three sessions on Monday 22.04.2024. See practical details further below. Check out our corresponding articles and get your questions ready! Continue reading Conference on standby duty and use of private phones for work purposes in Delegations April 2024 →

Are we testing competences or IT setup?

Certification, EEAS, EPSO, Internal Competitions, Newsletter - 2024-03-15, Outside the Union Print This Post

We don’t normally publish the full text of a note as an article but, given the known IT incompatibilities, we do so here: we want to make this text available to colleagues regardless of where they are based. Please find below a slightly abridged version of the note we sent to HR (internal exams) and EPSO (certification exams) with a copy to all relevant DGs and IT services.

Generation 2004 requests that EPSO and HR engage with colleagues and services in order to address the known compatibility issues between the different EU institution[1] IT environments and the online testing/exam platforms used[2] (whether EPSO or internal exams, the issues encountered overlap). Continue reading Are we testing competences or IT setup? →

Flash report on the Local Agents’ Provident Fund

EEAS, Local Agents, Newsletter - 2023-11-14, Pensions, Representations, Working conditions Print This Post

The pension benefits system for local staff in Delegations (Provident Fund for Local Agents (‘PFLA‘)) has lost over 5% of its value. This means that the amount of money local agents (LA) receive at the end of their career (through employer and employee contributions) is falling. Continue reading Flash report on the Local Agents’ Provident Fund →

Generation 2004 meets staff in EU Delegations 24.10.2023

EEAS, Events, Local Agents, Outside the Union Print This Post

*Update 27.10.2023.  Please find the presentation on Mobility for CA in delegations and the Decision on Working Time and Time Management, shared with you during the session on 24.10.2023. Generation 2004 is here for you, regardless of where you are! We would like to invite you to our virtual meeting to discuss all matters Delegations on Tuesday 24.10.2023. Please participate in any of our three conferences: 9:00–10:30, 12:30-14:00 or 18:00-19:30 (all times are CEST/Brussels time). See practical details further below). Check out our corresponding EEAS and Outside the Union articles and get your questions ready! Continue reading Generation 2004 meets staff in EU Delegations 24.10.2023 →

Webinar on EEAS internal competitions

EEAS, Events, Internal Competitions, Training Print This Post

Generation 2004, in cooperation with Ya Semos Europeos, has organised a webinar on the application and competition process for the internal competitions in the External Action Service (EEAS). These don’t happen very often and we understand that you want to make the best of this opportunity.

We focus on practical aspects of the application:

  • work experience requirements
  • tips for the talent screener for those competitions which have it
  • the most common mistakes done by the candidates

You can find the PowerPoint presentation  here.

Ongoing difficulties for Local agents in Delegation Türkiye

EEAS, Local Agents, Newsletter - 2023-04-20, Outside the Union Print This Post

*Update 29.09.2022 Local Agents in Türkiye are now being paid in euro, thank you all for your support!* Original article: Generation 2004 finds the situation for Local agents in Delegation Türkiye frustrating. We urge the administration to do the right thing: uphold the rule of law and principle of equal treatment.  Abide by the outcome of the court case and comply with the instructions of the court.  The pretext/excuse of a “lack of administrative” budget does not hold water. Losing a court case is not a daily operational business and therefore no institution should expect to be able to meet the financial liabilities under that business-as-usual budget item. Continue reading Ongoing difficulties for Local agents in Delegation Türkiye →