Newsletter-2026-10-13

Newsletter editorial – 13-10-2026

Editorial, Newsletter-2026-10-13

Dear colleagues,  

Welcome to the edition 8 of our Newsletter! 

As this edition goes to publication, one message comes through clearly across these articles: a modern, credible and future-proof European Commission can only be built by taking staff realities seriously. From the ongoing Large-Scale Review to case-law on harassment, assistance procedures and appraisal safeguards, from burnout prevention and mediation to retirement planning,  whistleblower protection and update on the Keep What Matters initiative, the common thread is the same: institutional effectiveness depends on fairness, trust, sound procedures and genuine care for the people who make the institution work.  Continue reading Newsletter editorial – 13-10-2026 →

Free conference: AD6 and AST2 competitions – 23 October 2026

Events, Newsletter-2026-10-13

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos,  is happy to invite you to a free info session for the EPSO AD6 and AST2 competitions.  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: AD6 and AST2 competitions – 23 October 2026 →

All-staff lunchtime conference: Large-Scale Review – make your views heard 

Events, Large-Scale review, Newsletter-2026-10-13

***Update: You can find the presentation and the recording here.***

All colleagues are invited to the all-staff lunchtime conference on Friday 16 October, from 12:30 to 14:00, to share views on the Large-Scale Review (LSR) ahead of the upcoming follow-up discussions with Commissioner Serafin. 

Hosted by Marcela Valkova, Chair of Generation 2004, this meeting will be an opportunity for colleagues across the European Commission to express their concerns, perspectives and expectations regarding the recommendations linked to the LSR.  Continue reading All-staff lunchtime conference: Large-Scale Review – make your views heard  →

Large Scale Review: Will the Commission finally recognise burnout as a structural capacity risk and do something about it? 

Large-Scale review, Newsletter-2026-10-13, well-being, Working conditions

Generation 2004 asks that the Commission invests in the human capacity of its staff, giving particular attention to mental health awareness and burnout prevention in the Large-Scale Review. In addition, Generation 2004 asks that reintegration to work after long term absences is tailored to the needs and specific circumstances of the member of staff with support from career guidance and psychosocial services, allowing the change of teams or DGs if needed.

In addition to introducing a continuous AI supported ‘brain gym’ into the fabric of our daily work to build an AI augmented force as indicated in the 2nd Recommendation on Innovation and AI of the Large-Scale Review, the Commission should invest in the mental resilience of staff. The Commission should ensure that staff can be functionally proficient and recover quickly when exposed to unexpected crises before expecting it to be agile.  Continue reading Large Scale Review: Will the Commission finally recognise burnout as a structural capacity risk and do something about it?  →

Commission’s Mediation Service: is it a success story?

Equality, Newsletter-2026-10-13, Services, well-being, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment

Context  

The Mediation Service was initially created in 1977. It was the basis for mediation between the administration and individual staff members for more than 20 years.  

In 2002, the role of the Mediation Service was reinforced by Commission Decision C(2002) 601 of 25 February 2002. The Mediation Service was empowered to issue general recommendations. In doing so, the Mediation Service was assigned a twofold task: on the one hand, to facilitate the settlement, in individual cases, of any difficulty that may arise in the context of conflicts at work or concerning the rights and obligations of staff and, on the other hand, to identify systemic or structural factors that if left unaddressed could fuel similar problems or difficulties to arise in the future and recommend possible courses of action.  Continue reading Commission’s Mediation Service: is it a success story? →

Thinking about retirement? Plan well in advance

Newsletter-2026-10-13, Pensions

When approaching retirement, you might want to have less stress and enjoy the remaining workdays. This could involve taking longer breaks, being more flexible and work fewer hours to gradually transit into the new well-deserved lifestyle. You might also want to explore new passions and hobbies, visit old family members, or plan a move back to your home country. There are also colleagues who start a new career outside of the EU institutions, but in any case, it is important to plan your future. 

When you have completed at least 10 years of active service or reached pensionable age, you are entitled to a pension. The key factor is your date of entry into service under the staff regulations, but there can be specific situations affecting retirement rights, for example, changes in status during a career, transfers between EU bodies, previous service that is recognised and invalidity retirement.   Continue reading Thinking about retirement? Plan well in advance →

Whistleblowing at the Commission: stronger rules, but will staff really be protected?

diversity & inclusion, Equality, Newsletter-2026-10-13, Working conditions

On 25 June 2026, Generation 2004 took part in the first social-dialogue meeting on the Commission’s draft Decision revising its existing Whistleblowing Guidelines. 

The revision is intended to update the current framework and ensure consistency with Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law, while taking account of developments since the last review in 2019. The Commission is also proposing to replace the existing Guidelines with a Commission Decision, giving the framework a stronger legal status. 

We welcome the initiative. But for Generation 2004, the key question is not simply whether the Commission has updated its rules. 

The real question is whether a colleague who reports wrongdoing will actually feel safe afterwards.  Continue reading Whistleblowing at the Commission: stronger rules, but will staff really be protected? →

EU Court strengthens staff rights in invalidity procedures

Newsletter-2026-10-13

At Generation 2004, we are seeing an increasing number of colleagues facing invalidity procedures, including colleagues at a relatively young age. Against this background, the recent judgment from 10 June 2026 (Case T-204/25, IQ v European Defence Agency) of the General Court of the European Union is particularly important. It clarifies when an administration may refuse to open an invalidity procedure and, importantly, confirms that a request cannot simply be considered “abusive” because it is made after a long period of sick leave or close to the end of a contract. 

Continue reading EU Court strengthens staff rights in invalidity procedures →

EU Court strengthens staff rights in harassment and assistance procedures

Newsletter-2026-10-13, workplace bullying and harassment

Harassment cases are among the most difficult situations a staff member can face, and the way an administration handles a request for assistance can be just as important as the underlying allegations. Therefore, we would like to recall the judgment in Case T-145/24, CU v European External Action Service (EEAS), delivered by the General Court of the European Union. It provides important clarification on the procedural safeguards that must apply when staff seek assistance under Article 24 of the staff regulations in relation to allegations of psychological harassment.  Continue reading EU Court strengthens staff rights in harassment and assistance procedures →

Can a Head of Unit accused of harassment still write your appraisal?

Newsletter-2026-10-13, Promotions, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment

Generation 2004 has recently been receiving a number of cases raising a particularly troubling question: what happens when a Head of Unit or reporting officer who is allegedly harassing a member of staff is also responsible for writing that person’s appraisal report? This is not simply a question of whether the appraisal is fair. It raises a more fundamental issue: can the person responsible for assessing a staff member objectively evaluate someone who has accused them of harassment?  Continue reading Can a Head of Unit accused of harassment still write your appraisal? →