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Speakers’ Corner: Sprachenpolitik / in / les institutions européennes

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

Internal competitions (ICs) and promotions: bad habits never die

  • Participation rates of up to 28 colleagues per post (a mere 3% probability of success…) in the internal competitions demonstrate the urgent need for a comprehensive and holistic remedy to the injustice brought about by the 2004 reform and its aftermath. Moreover, figures also show that the probability of success varies widely between grades and fields. Generally speaking, the higher your starting grade, the higher your chances. Also, choosing HR and budget management as your field was apparently a good idea. Another inexplicable feature of these ICs is the imposed minimum grades, comparable only with introducing minimum income as eligibility criteria in open competitions. Generation2004 is working on an in-depth assessment of the ICs which will give more details and also highlight the major shortcoming of the IC in comparison to the Generation2004 proposal tabled earlier this year.

Continue reading Internal competitions (ICs) and promotions: bad habits never die