Where to start? Maybe start with the end goal, which is to squeeze in all Luxembourg Commission staff in 2 buildings: part of the new Jean Monnet building (JMO2) and the new Mercier-Post (MERP) building and save money at all costs even to the detriment of staff wellbeing.
Continue reading Luxembourg buildings and staff as figures on a chess board
Local Staff Committee
JRC staff policy – high ambitions, ugly realities
Update 07.07.2025: In the meantime, the Head of Unit responsible for sacking the two Contract Agents and previously accused of harassing a number of other colleagues has been proposed for promotion with just two years of seniority in the grade, two years less than the average in that grade. What do we learn from that?
Continue reading JRC staff policy – high ambitions, ugly realities
Brussels Canteens: rising prices, shrinking wages
Price increase confirmed – Generation 2004 calls for support for the most vulnerable. Meal prices in the European Commission’s canteens in Brussels are set to increase by 4.2%, as confirmed by the Head of Unit responsible for the catering in OIB, during the Local Staff Committee Brussels (LSC Brussels) meeting on Tuesday 1 July.
Continue reading Brussels Canteens: rising prices, shrinking wages
Luxembourg: Update on JMO2 – Letter from OIL
“We have recently been informed by the architect in charge of the JMO2 project that we are likely to experience further delays with the delivery of the building.“ sounds the joint message from Mr Quest and Mr Miranda-Vizuete. How did you feel when you read this sentence?
Continue reading Luxembourg: Update on JMO2 – Letter from OIL
Luxembourg: Additional admin – EU education allowance and state aid
Here’s how to navigate an additional administrative burden for those of you in Luxembourg with dependent children in higher (tertiary) education. The assistance available from the Luxembourg state interacts with the EU education allowance in unexpected ways, make sure to avoid surprises! Continue reading Luxembourg: Additional admin – EU education allowance and state aid
Navigating the rental market: A call for tenant protections and institutional support
Brussels, the heart of the European Union, welcomes thousands of newcomers every year: colleagues arriving to take up positions in the institutions. For many, across all Commission sites[1], securing a place to live is one of the first and most critical challenges they face[2]. However, navigating the complex rental system, understanding legal rights and obligations, and dealing with landlords who may not always act in good faith often turn what should be a straightforward process into a stressful and costly ordeal. Continue reading Navigating the rental market: A call for tenant protections and institutional support
European Schools: more options, starting with Brussels
The Commission has started a new path to create options for those with children in European Schools (ESS) and, given the structural overcrowding of the four in Brussels, it starts there. In its announcement, the Commission informs of a new agreement allowing children free schooling at the Accredited European School Brussels-Argenteuil in Waterloo, valid from school year 2025/26 onwards in the EN and FR sections. Continue reading European Schools: more options, starting with Brussels
Generation 2004: Your Voice in the European Commission
At the European Commission, staff representation is the cornerstone of ensuring fairness and equality in the workplace. Whether you’re a newcomer or a long-serving colleague, understanding how that representation works and why it matters is essential. Generation 2004 is here to ensure that your voice is heard, that your concerns are addressed, and that your workplace evolves to meet your needs. Continue reading Generation 2004: Your Voice in the European Commission
Ispra Correction Coefficient
*Update 02.12.2024 here’s the official announcement of the 2024 annual update of remuneration and pensions**Update 21.11.2024 check out the European Court of Auditors, 2024, Special report 24/2024: EU Civil service–A flexible employment framework, insufficiently used to improve workforce management: it concludes that Continue reading Ispra Correction Coefficient
ISPRA : Access to Health Care in Italy – Sick of Waiting
*Update 02.05.2025: Beware, we have no published source for this, so this is hearsay, but we felt it important enough to keep in mind. [*] It has been suggested that those choosing to leave pension contributions made to the Italian state in Italy (i.e. not doing a transfer into the Pension scheme of the EU institutions (PSEUI)) might have/retain some claim to having a national health insurance card, the tessera sanitaria. Do you have any information on this?
Continue reading ISPRA : Access to Health Care in Italy – Sick of Waiting
