On 2 September 2026 the General Court (Case T-416/24, ES v Commission) has dismissed an action brought by a candidate who challenged her exclusion from the next stage of Commission internal competition COM/AD/03/22 (AD 5). The case concerned, in particular, technical difficulties allegedly encountered before and during a remote written examination.
Continue reading Internal competition: Court examined technical difficulties and the duty of care
*Update 24.08.2026: all places in this study group have been filled. Registration is therefore closed and the register link and the corresponding discount codes are no longer available*
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training with a Study group 3 for cognitive reasoning (numerical, deductive and inductive) test for the COM AD5 and the COM AST3 Internal competition. There is a special discount rate for our members ONLY and registrations are made on “first come first served basis”.
*Update 16.07.2026: all places in this study group have been filled. Registration is therefore closed and and register link and the corresponding discount codes are no longer available.*
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training with a Study group 2 for cognitive reasoning (numerical, deductive and inductive) test for the COM AD5 and the COM AST3 Internal competition. There is a special discount rate for our members ONLY and registrations are made on “first come first served basis”.
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you self-study training for the written test for internal competitions, for candidates to prepare at their own pace. There is a special discount rate for our members ONLY.
Continue reading Training offer: internal competitions – Self Study Written test (EN)
On 1 July 2026, the General Court delivered its judgment in Case T-415/25, KH v European Commission, annulling the Commission’s decision to exclude a temporary agent from an internal competition after he was unable to attend the oral examination because of certified sick leave.
*Update 13.07.2026: you can find here the presentation and the recording of the info session*
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to invite you to a free info session for the AST3 internal competition. You will get tips and tricks on how to fill in the application, as well as advice on how to tackle the different parts of the exam. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the conference.
Continue reading Free conference: AST3 internal competition – 10 July 2026
*Update 30.06.2026: you can find here the presentation and the recording of the meeting*
On 26 June, Generation 2004 held an online lunchtime meeting to update members on key staff issues, followed by a Q&A session.
The meeting focused on the Commission’s Large-Scale Review, with Generation 2004 stressing that any reforms must respect the staff regulations, protect careers and be based on genuine social dialogue.
Continue reading Generation 2004 lunchtime meeting: key updates
The European Commission frequently speaks about talent management, competencies, lifelong learning and the need to build a more modern and agile administration. These themes have become increasingly prominent in discussions surrounding the Large-Scale Review and the future of the European civil service.
At the heart of these discussions lies a simple idea: institutions should be able to identify, develop, and retain talent wherever it exists.
Yet recent feedback received by Generation 2004 raises an important question: does the current system of internal competitions truly recognise professional experience and demonstrated competence, or does it still rely too heavily on formal labels and rigid eligibility criteria?
The launch of the recent AD6 and AD7 internal competitions has once again highlighted a long-standing inconsistency in the Commission’s approach to career development.
While temporary agents remain broadly eligible, many AST officials continue to be excluded from specialist competitions despite performing equivalent duties and often possessing extensive institutional experience. Similarly, Contract Agents face consequences of regulatory restrictions, despite the recently published and awaited AD completion in which FG IV could participate.
Continue reading Internal Competitions: Is the Commission Really Using Its Internal Talent?
The recent AD7 internal competition introduced a new cognitive assessment based on the SHL General Ability Test.
While innovation in selection methods is not inherently problematic, the feedback received from candidates raises important questions about both the implementation of the test and its relevance for assessing experienced officials.
