z Newsletter article

The ONE: is this the future of the European civil service?

Brussels, Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, Open Plan Office Print This Post

*Update 24.11.2023: Can any of you send us a photo of the new flexible-working ‘toolkit‘ inside a locker?[*]*

*Update 22.02.2022: we’re hearing that colleagues are changing DG in order to avoid open space/hot-desking. Is this you? Get in touch, we’d like to hear from you!*

Original article: No assigned desk and a cold pasta Bolognese from the vending machine: is this the future of the European civil service? If you want a glimpse of the latest building being showcased as the future the administration is designing for the EU civil service, come with us and visit ‘The ONE’, aka L107. This, the future workplace of some 1700 Commission staff from next year, comes not long after the dynamic open spaces set up in DG BUDG, DG TRADE, and is soon to be followed by the new Publications Office (OP) (POST-Mercier) and the Jean Monnet 2 (JMO2). Continue reading The ONE: is this the future of the European civil service? →

The ‘new normal’: is this it? FAQs 11.10.2021

additional teleworking costs, FAQs, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, Open Plan Office, return to the office-new normal, Teleworking, Working conditions Print This Post

*This FAQs is superseded by 28.10.2021 version*

We had the second of a proposed two social dialogue meetings on the implementation of working time and hybrid working yesterday (Monday 11.10.2021). HR agreed to a third meeting: there are many questions still outstanding Continue reading The ‘new normal’: is this it? FAQs 11.10.2021 →

Thanks to your support, fairer and more transparent election rules adopted!

Brussels, Elections, Electoral reform, Local Staff Committee, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12 Print This Post

Thanks to your overwhelming support, the Generation 2004 proposals which aimed at ensuring fairer and more-transparent staff representation elections were adopted with 90% in favour during the Brussels and Commission Representations in the EU staff general assembly (24.09.2021).

Why we needed change Continue reading Thanks to your support, fairer and more transparent election rules adopted! →

An appeal from a Karlsruhe-based coffee addict

COVID-19, Karlsruhe, Newsletter - 2021-10-08 Print This Post

I started here at the JRC Karlsruhe not so long ago. The second lockdown was in sight, not optimal for a change of country and work environment. I am from a coffee-loving place, born and raised with a coffee culture, and my first sight on entering the JRC in Karlsruhe was the prominent placing of the Cafeteria with a professional espresso machine – what a nice working place! Continue reading An appeal from a Karlsruhe-based coffee addict →

Generation 2004 member wins a case on access to their medical file!

Data Protection, disability and special needs, Health, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, PMO, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

Generation 2004 has been fighting hard for the effective implementation of the right of staff to have full and timely access to their medical file.

Access to your own medical file and the right to update the information contained there are very important, particularly in circumstances where that information is used to make a decision about you e.g. whether you are fit enough to continue to work or even just to be recruited.  A lack of transparency leads to questions about fairness and motives [1]. Of course, occasionally there may be legitimate reasons for insisting that a doctor access parts of the file on your behalf. However, we all still have the right to consult (via a healthcare professional, if necessary) the information in our medical history and to correct it or add a note where necessary. Continue reading Generation 2004 member wins a case on access to their medical file! →

Internal competitions: EU institutions doing it differently

Assistants, Institutions, Internal Competitions, New HR strategy, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, Professional mobility, Secretaries and clerks Print This Post

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation.* Continue reading Internal competitions: EU institutions doing it differently →

Stop the phasing out of the AST function group!

Assistants, Newsletter - 2021-10-08, Newsletter - 2021-10-12, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories, Staff Regulations Reform Print This Post

*Update 23.09.2025: check the Draft 2026 Commission budget (p. 954-955). While the Commission as a whole is set to lose 24 posts, the AST function group is to lose 121 (leaving 4398 permanent staff). No other function group is to decrease in size.*

Original article: A brief history of assistants, secretaries and clerks in the European Commission

Since 2018 Generation 2004 has been warning of and working against the phasing out of the assistants (AST) function group (FG) and the placing of all AST staff in ‘transition’. To better understand the issues at stake, we need to briefly examine the history and evolution of assistants, secretaries and clerks (AST/SC) in the European Commission.  Continue reading Stop the phasing out of the AST function group! →

EPSO CBT training offer: October 2021

Events, Newsletter - 2021-09-08, Training Print This Post

*Update 18.10.2021: online free resources added below*

Generation 2004 is organising more computer-based multiple-choice test (CBT) training in English for 4/8/11/14 October (4 x 2 hour sessions) to provide you with techniques to pass the CBT phase of any European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) competition. We expect new competitions to be published very soon (within the next few days) (check ongoing selection procedures for CBT dates).

The final objective of this training is to guarantee that candidates master the CBT methodology. The training sessions will go through the theory of the exercises and share a practical methodology and exercises for practice at home, with the possibility of addressing doubts in the following session. Continue reading EPSO CBT training offer: October 2021 →

Sign our petition to stop the obligatory return to the office (and FAQs)

COVID-19, FAQs, Newsletter - 2021-09-20, return to the office-new normal Print This Post

*update 27.10.2021 the Belgian national authorities: from Friday 29.10.2021: ‘Teleworking is strongly recommended for all staff members of companies, associations and service providers, unless this is not possible due to the nature of the business or service.’

We at Generation 2004 believe that it is premature to push on with Phase 3 of the Tentative plan for gradual return to the office before the worries and issues voiced by staff are addressed. While we fully understand and support the need for many to go back to the office, we request that this be made voluntary and that the Commission postpone the obligation to return.

Continue reading Sign our petition to stop the obligatory return to the office (and FAQs) →

Newsletter editorial – 20-9-2021

Editorial, Newsletter - 2021-09-20 Print This Post

There is a lot going on right now in the Commission.

Staff are being pushed back to the office without any regard to the specificity of sites like Brussels, where the pandemic is still making the Brussels region to be considered red – please help us stop it.

Teleworking from anywhere (TWA) is also a hot subject that has finally caught the eye of other trade unions… (too little too late?) This is also a matter that is currently being discussed in the context of the New HR Strategy and that we would like to have your opinion on.

Furthermore, in this edition we publish four articles related to staff’s health and  well-being. We cover the annual medical check-up, the situation when you may fall ill during leave, what the state of play is in accessing your medical service records and finally how the Commission discriminates against persons with disabilities.

Enjoy the reading and, as usual, let us know if we can help with anything!