The first results of the internal competitions were published on the Commission intranet. Hey ho! Like every fifth year it is again parachute- jumping season in the European Commission. Our HR pros, who say of themselves: “Our staff are dedicated to making the civil service of the European Union a modern, effective and dynamic organisation, fit for the challenges of the 21st century”, have again found a way to hand out the silken parachutes to the privileged few. Continue reading Dirty games and money for nothing (or “NEPOTISM REDEFINED” for the more discerning)
Internal Competitions
Speakers’ Corner: Sprachenpolitik / in / les institutions européennes
NEW – the “Speakers’ Corner”
Beginning with this edition of our newsletter, the “speakers’ corner” is intended to provide a space where anyone can express an individual opinion which does not necessarily have to be the official opinion of Generation 2004. Please send us your contributions for coming editions.
The somewhat inconsistent sprachenpolitik dans les institutions européennes – a politically incorrect proposal for refurbishing the tower of Babel – by “the rock” from Ispra
One of the lesser known features of the 2004 staff regulations reform was the introduction of what is commonly known as the third language requirement. In the beautiful prose of the legislator, it is stated that “officials shall be required to demonstrate before their first promotion after recruitment the ability to work in a third language among those referred
to in … the EC Treaty.” Continue reading Speakers’ Corner: Sprachenpolitik / in / les institutions européennes
Analysis: AD9 internal competitions
Internal competitions were presented last year by Vice-President Sefcovic as an initial response to the divergence between pre and post – 2004 careers. What is our assessment now that the competition is over?
Generation 2004 has looked in details at the results of the AD9 competition. The analysis of other competitions will follow. The first finding, not surprisingly, is that cabinet members, together with several temporary agents (TAs) that have a link to DG HR (most of whom coincidentally hail from a specific Member State) represent about a quarter of the laureates. Continue reading Analysis: AD9 internal competitions
Internal competitions (ICs) and promotions: bad habits never die
- Participation rates of up to 28 colleagues per post (a mere 3% probability of success…) in the internal competitions demonstrate the urgent need for a comprehensive and holistic remedy to the injustice brought about by the 2004 reform and its aftermath. Moreover, figures also show that the probability of success varies widely between grades and fields. Generally speaking, the higher your starting grade, the higher your chances. Also, choosing HR and budget management as your field was apparently a good idea. Another inexplicable feature of these ICs is the imposed minimum grades, comparable only with introducing minimum income as eligibility criteria in open competitions. Generation2004 is working on an in-depth assessment of the ICs which will give more details and also highlight the major shortcoming of the IC in comparison to the Generation2004 proposal tabled earlier this year.
Continue reading Internal competitions (ICs) and promotions: bad habits never die
