After “enjoying” a lengthy period of numerous elections, we thought that you deserve a bit of lighter communications and topic. Our Offices have been decorated with electoral posters from the garages to the rooftops. Now, something has to be done about it.
Continue reading Post-Election ORIGAMI Competition
The Brussels Commissioner for Europe and International Organisations has a unique mission in the capital of Europe. The Commissioner and his team act as a go-between linking regional authorities with the international organisations. The Welcome Desks (WDs) ocasionally organise seminars/webinars on specific themes for target audiences.
Continue reading FREE WEBINAR: Filing a Belgian tax return – 20 May at 12.00 PM
As the promotion season is now once again upon us, there are no doubt many of you who are expecting “on-time” promotions for your efforts over the last few years[*]. The bad news for those of you non-managers in ‘middle management‘ grades AD9 to AD11 is that when the DG lists come out in June you might be disappointed.
Continue reading Mid-grade AD promotion? Only if you are a people manager
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n recent discussions and at the last Plenary of the Staff Representation (CLP-HU), the administration of European External Action Service (EEAS) has presented as a possibility changes to the employment contracts of Local Agents (LAs) in EU Delegations, suggesting the adoption of limited-duration contracts, such as 1+1+1 years format. Continue reading EEAS: Rethinking Local Agent Contract Policies in EU Delegations
*Update 15.05.2025, A big thank you to the colleague who got in touch to say we promised a recording below. Apologies for the oversight, we did indeed state that: sorry! Since we do these events fairly regularly, we don’t record them. The most interesting part is generally the question and answer part and people are more likely to participate and ask questions if they are not recorded doing so. We add all and any new questions or even additional explanations to our pension FAQs and transfer FAQs after each event. Thanks again for the correction!*
Continue reading Conference: tackling pension-rights questions
Update 09.07.2025: a message from our guest speaker : ‘I wanted to share a few key insights that resonated with me following our session: “The less story I see, the more present I am.” This simple truth captured the heart of our time together—how much we add to what we experience, and how liberating it can be to simply be’. Recording and slides
Continue reading Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker: Breaking the Silence – You Are Not Alone in the Struggle
*Update 06.10.2025 the court case querying the legality of nationality-specific competitions is ongoing.*
*Update 26.08.2025 the updated time estimates are available under ‘planning’: please note some will take place SOONER than originally stated: don’t miss your chance!*
Original article: We have received an overwhelming number of complaints from colleagues about serious irregularities in recent internal and external competitions: technical failures of the testing platform, problems with the Single Candidate Portal, and questionable content in the knowledge tests based on non-official sources such as the Draghi Report.
Continue reading Internal & External Competitions – Contesting the Results : Conference
On 25 March 2025, Generation 2004 External Action Service (EEAS) section hosted a conference addressing the pressing challenges within the European Schools (ESS) system. The event witnessed robust participation, with a full room of colleagues and approximately 30-35 online attendees from the EEAS and the European Commission, all deeply engaged in discussions about the future of our children’s education. Continue reading Urgent Call for Reform in European Schools
*Update 02.10.2025, we’ve seen the publication of the first of the promised internal competitions: the specialist AD7/AD9 financial risk management. It’s disappointing that it does not include ASTs in spite of the statement in the planning that some internal competitions would include ASTs. We are looking at it.*
Continue reading Internal Competitions: A Fair Shot for Everyone?
In recent months, a significant shift has been observed in the policy regarding the employment contracts of local agents working in over 140 EU Delegations worldwide. Generation 2004 observes that these colleagues, who have long played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of EU external representation, are now facing a precarious professional situation:
Continue reading EEAS: The Future of Local Agents in EU Delegations: A Growing Concern for Stability and Institutional Credibility
