Promotions

EEAS: Improving the Promotion/reclassification System

The yearly promotion/reclassification exercise within the European External Action Service (EEAS) is a crucial moment for all staff, whether officials, or non-permanent staff as it directly impacts career development and recognition of merit. The final lists for the 2024 exercises were published 07.11.2024. However, Generation 2004 has observed persistent concerns regarding the lack of transparency, predictability, and security in the current promotion system. We have made similar obervations about the promotions/reclassifications system in the Commission[1].

Continue reading EEAS: Improving the Promotion/reclassification System

Longer and sustainable careers for contracts agents 

*Update 21.11.2024 check out the European Court of Auditors, 2024, Special report 24/2024EU Civil service–A flexible employment framework, insufficiently used to improve workforce management: it concludes that ‘While the recruitment of temporary staff has proven an effective and flexible way to deal with the shortage of successful candidates on EPSO reserve lists, it carries some risks for business continuity and knowledge management, and as such cannot be a viable long-term solution‘ (Paragraph 100)*

Continue reading Longer and sustainable careers for contracts agents 

Promotion/reclassification what happens now?

*Update 12.11.2024:  Promotion and reclassification exercise final lists were published. As below, If your name is not on the final list then the only option remaining for you is to file a formal complaint, if you want to exhaust the possibilities.*

Original article: A long time has passed since June, when the draft lists were published, and there’s still some time to go before the final lists are out. Unfortunately, for anyone outside the corresponding committees, there’s nothing to be done on this topic in the meantime: we are all just waiting for the final lists. The last publication date was  10.11.2023, so we expect the timing to be similar in 2024. Continue reading Promotion/reclassification what happens now?

Reinforcing mobility for contract agents 

Generation2004 has taken a closer look at the potential to change post or DG (‘mobility’) of Contract Agents (both permanent 3A and non-permanent 3B), triggered by the feedback from our members. We are astonished how restrictive and inflexible the system continues to be. We are convinced that a lack of mobility in general hampers career growth which can lead to frustration, demotivation, burnout and contribute to long periods of medical leave. A change is needed! 

Continue reading Reinforcing mobility for contract agents 

Ignored efforts: Unfair outcomes

*Update 07.08.2024: answer from HR to our note.  Generation 2004 wrote to DG HR to point out a disparity in treatment faced by colleagues involved in the Selection Boards of Competitions. Those present on these boards represent either the staff representation or our own HR (‘the  administration’) and all of them invest a considerable time and effort.

Continue reading Ignored efforts: Unfair outcomes

Conference: the 2024 reclassification and promotion appeals season opens Thursday 13 June, Generation 2004 is here to help

Every year, the promotion and reclassification procedures, for officials and Contract Agents (CAs) respectively, go through several stages to culminate in formal recognition (or not) for the job performed during the previous years. During the first stage, your DG’s hierarchy put together draft reclassification and promotion lists according to the DG quota distribution. Continue reading Conference: the 2024 reclassification and promotion appeals season opens Thursday 13 June, Generation 2004 is here to help

How to increase your chances to get a promotion/reclassification in 2024?

*Update 17.04.2024 the note we drafted on behalf of the Central Staff Committee (CSC) requesting a full evaluation of the revamped evaluation template has been sent.*

Original article: The promotion/reclassification process is not particularly user-friendly. It’s not always clear how DGs choose who to reward, nor why some years appear to be better than others. Continue reading How to increase your chances to get a promotion/reclassification in 2024?

Appraisal dialogues are coming

*01.10.2024 we republish this article for anyone who needs it. Note that the option to reuse the text from previous appraisal means that the chat still takes place, but that there is no new input.* Orginal article: Many colleagues by now have finished their self-assessment and are awaiting the dialogue with their reporting officer. MyIntracomm has information on this dialogue, objectives, the report itself, the timeline and special situations, so is also worth a look (here is the somewhat less-detailed info for reclassification).

A couple of hints for this dialogue are in order [1]. Continue reading Appraisal dialogues are coming

Echoes of unhappiness

*Update 08.03.2024: do women have fewer promotable tasks i.e. are women spending time and energy on less-valued jobs? What are your thoughts?*

Original article: In our Newsletter (10.10.2023), we announced a survey for assistant (AST), secretary/clerk (AST/SC), Contract Agent (CA) or Temporary agent (TA). The survey is now closed, and we thank the 1581 colleagues who contributed. We present here our preliminary results and will follow up in more detail in a later edition of our newsletter. The majority of respondents were ASTs and CAs, female colleagues, mainly from 40- to 60-year-old, based in Brussels/Commission.  

Continue reading Echoes of unhappiness

2024 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises conference

We publish this early enough for you to make a start on listing your achievements, training and highlights throughout 2023 to avoid you having to hit the ground running in January. This conference explains the evaluation process and offers tips. Join us Tuesday, 9 January 2024, 12:00-13:30. We cover how to prepare your self-assessment and your one-on-one interview with your line manager (‘reporting officer’) [1] this is applicable both to the promotion (officials) and reclassification (Contract Agents, except 3b)[2]. Continue reading 2024 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises conference