Newsletter #9 – Nov 2014

Commission staff survey – 2014

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G2004 Newsletter #9

During the meeting, Commissioner Georgieva encouraged all colleagues to participate in the ongoing Staff Survey being conducted by the Commission for 2014, emphasising her wish to hear directly the views of staff as a precursor for future actions. In the recent days you received several reminders from DG HR as well. For once we would like to support such a call.

Whilst Generation 2004 is and will continue to be the primary voice of the post-2004 generation in EU institutions, it is very important that you yourself use this opportunity to speak in order to give an individual face to our collective message. We are not attempting to put any words in your mouth, but simply provoke your brains with a couple of reflections whilst urging you to complete this survey: Continue reading Commission staff survey – 2014 →

Speakers’ Corner: Sprachenpolitik / in / les institutions européennes

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G2004 Newsletter #9

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 →

LUX Contract Agents: a fight against precarity in the Commission

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G2004 Newsletter #9

Generation 2004 continues to support Contract Agents in Luxembourg as they fight for a decent pay or for that matter, a pay that is not below the legal Luxembourgish minimum.

Several meetings between the staff representatives and DG HR have taken place over the past days and weeks and although some concessions were proposed by the administration, fundamental differences unfortunately remain. DG HR considers any salary compensation out of the question and instead proposes to stop the movement with “social measures” such as – for instance – the ludicrous proposal of reducing the price of (some) meals in the cafeteria. The idea of being silenced with a baguette springs to mind instantly, doesn’t it? Or Marie Antoinette’s infamous proposal to “let them eat cake”, when faced by the first uprisings of the French revolution. Continue reading LUX Contract Agents: a fight against precarity in the Commission →

Analysis: AD9 internal competitions

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G2004 Newsletter #9

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 →

First meeting of OSPs with our new Commissioner – Kristalina Georgieva

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G2004 Newsletter #9

On Friday 21 November, all unions and staff associations (OSPs) were invited to a first meeting with the new Commissioner in charge of personnel (as well as budget) – Vice- President Kristalina Georgieva. Several members of her cabinet including the head – Mrs Mariana Hristcheva – were also in attendance.

The meeting was a very cordial and positive event, with Mrs Georgieva proving to be a warm and open person as well as a good, attentive and patient listener.

She (and her staff) appear to have “hit the ground running”, demonstrating an excellent grasp of staff issues and engaging into some serious discussion on a number of concrete matters, beyond the usual pleasantries which normally characterise such initial meetings. Continue reading First meeting of OSPs with our new Commissioner – Kristalina Georgieva →

More than a Ray of Light: a debrief on the post-2004 conference

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G2004 Newsletter #9

You will remember the call launched by Generation 2004 on the 10th anniversary of the 2004 staff regulations reform (see here p. 1 and here p. 3) for all unions and staff associations (OSPs) to come together in a conference which would analyse in a holistic manner the post-2004 problem and ideally come out with a set of proposals intended to improve the situation and career perspectives of post-2004 colleagues. Continue reading More than a Ray of Light: a debrief on the post-2004 conference →

…… and finally some lighter moments

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G2004 Newsletter #9

After giving birth to Generation 2004 and watching it begin to grow, we are now well on the way to prepare for Generation 2015. Indeed, G2004 Secretary – Stefan Nistor – and G2004-LUX board member – Attila Gecse – have recently begun contributing in this sense by fathering two lovely baby girls  Congratulations to both proud daddies
….. and mummies of course Continue reading …… and finally some lighter moments →