reclassification

Advancement Possibilities for Contract Agents: Optimistic on Paper, Disappointing in Practice

Advancement opportunities for Contract Agents (CAs) are often perceived as limited. Various mechanisms for career progression exist, but they differ considerably in terms of accessibility. Some are automatic, some require significant effort, some depend on available resources, and others are subject to restrictions that make them far less accessible in practice than they appear on paper. 

Continue reading Advancement Possibilities for Contract Agents: Optimistic on Paper, Disappointing in Practice

Generation 2004 Breakfast Meeting Focuses on Key Workplace Issues

On 15 June, Generation 2004 hosted a breakfast meeting for its members and colleagues interested in learning more about the organisation and its activities. The event provided an opportunity to exchange views, strengthen professional networks, and discuss key issues currently affecting staff in the European institutions.

Continue reading Generation 2004 Breakfast Meeting Focuses on Key Workplace Issues

Conference: 11.06.2026 reclassification and promotion appeals, Generation 2004 is here to help

***UPDATE: You can find the link to the recording and to the presentation here.***

The 2026 draft reclassification and promotion lists will be published in Sysper on Thursday 11 June. There are now very limited options to influence whether your name is on the final lists when they are published mid-November. We have a lunchtime event planned to explain both what happens next and what those limited options are that are available to you if you find that your name is not on that list (and you believe that it should be). Please prepare for the event and start making notes for a potential appeal.

Thursday 11 June at lunchtime (12.30-13.30 Brussels time)

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Consult Sysper and check whether you are proposed for promotion/reclassification.

1. Your name is on the draft June list

i. Congratulations!!!

ii.Please consider that the June lists are drafts only and that the final promotion/reclassification lists are published in November. There are no guarantees that your name will be on that final list. For those wanting to avoid all risk we advise you to consider waiting until December before changing DG or function group (e.g. certification) or going on unpaid leave/CCP. Also, while no one chooses the timing of their own disciplinary action, please be aware of its damage potential here.

2. Your name is not on the draft June list

i. Check below whether you’re eligible for promotion/reclassification and what the average speed is for you.

 Staff[*] Appraisal Reward possible? Minimum time in grade (‘seniority’) to be eligible Average speed of reward
Officials Yes Promotion 2 years staff regulations Annex I.B and our chart with those percentages converted to years
Temporary agents (2a and 2d) Yes Reclassification (JRC/GROW/RTD only) [**] 2 years Staff Regulations Annex I.B
Temporary agents (2b, 2c, 2e, 2f) Yes no[***] Not applicable (N/A) N/A
Contract Agents 3a Yes reclassification 2 years Page 5-6 of
Commission Decision C(2013) 2529 final
Contract Agents 3b Yes no ≤ 3 years N/A

ii. Consider whether the reason for not including your name on the list might be related not to your performance but to other reasons: having moved team/DG (‘mobility’), having taken parental/maternity leave, a change of line manager, other difficulties or personal conflicts.

iii. Draft an appeal text. The appeal is a misnomer: you are not questioning anyone’s assessment of you, but rather requesting access to the  small amount (5% of the overall  quota) of promotions/reclassifications held back for this purpose. No one will know whether or not you appealed unless you are successful. And if you are successful then you’ve made your manager’s work easier next year since you will already have been promoted/reclassified.

iv. Get someone else to look at your appeal. As usual Generation 2004 can help with reviewing your draft but, due the number of cases and the shortness of the period, we are unable to write it for you or with you. Please register via our online form and we will then contact you to let you know who from our team will work with you and to arrange for a meeting if you prefer to talk to us.

v. submit the appeal via sysper within 5 working days from the date of publication of the proposal lists (in principle late Thursday 18 June, but this is extended for those on leave). So, even if the appeal tab is no longer visible in SYSPER, if you believe this applies to you, please contact HR e.g.

‘Dear colleagues, Please re-activate the appeal button in SYSPER. I would like to file my appeal against my exclusion in the list of proposal for promotion/reclassification [delete one] this year. However, the corresponding tab in Sysper is no longer available. I was unable to use SYSPER due to sick leave/annual leave/etc. [delete as appropriate] and so for me the period of 5 working days has not yet expired. Please advise how to proceed.’

vi. Wait until the final lists are published in mid-November. There is nothing more for you to do. Your appeal will be examined by the committee and may result in your name being added to the list of reclassification proposals. Ultimately however, it is the Appointing Authority that takes the decision to promote members of staff.

The next steps in the 2025 reclassification  and promotion  exercises are:

  • mid-November: publication of final lists in  (check administrative notices  or email
  • December: changes visible in pay slip.

As always, we would love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us or leave a comment below.

If you appreciate our work, please consider becoming a member of Generation 2004.

For those of you unable to wait, please check 2025 recording  and the 2025 presentation.

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[*] Local agents are promoted via different processes:  here are the rules for delegations (EEAS) and here is an example  for those in EU Representations.

[**] There is a joint committee on reclassification (not promotion) for Temporary Agents (TAs) of JRC/GROW/RTD only. We also see TAs with permanent contracts (yes, mental gymnastics are necessary here: to be permanently temporary) 2a and 2d listed for reclassification.

[***] 16.01.2023 HR response to our questions on TAs: Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) (Article 15(2)) which states that only the provisions on annual reports [appraisal] from the Staff Regulations  (SR) (Article 43) apply by analogy to TAs. By contrast, there is no such provision concerning  promotion (SR Article 45). This means that, in principle, TAs are not subject to promotion. This principle is confirmed in the case-law of the General Court (e.g. T-366/15 P, paragraph 48).

 

Understanding grades and steps in the career of Contract Agents

Generation 2004 is frequently approached by colleagues seeking advice on how to advance in grading. This article aims at clarifying what one can expect (or not) in that respect during their engagement in the institution, but also upon recruitment or contract change.   Continue reading Understanding grades and steps in the career of Contract Agents

Conference: How to increase your chances to get a promotion/reclassification in 2026?

*** Update – You can find the recording and the presentation here ***

The whole appraisal and promotion/reclassification processes can be a bit of a mystery. It’s not always clear how DGs choose who to reward, nor why some years appear to be better than others. There might be situations suggesting that some staff were less favoured.

What happens between now and the publication of the draft promotion/reclassification lists in June? And what happens between then and the publication of the final lists in November? 

For a clear reply on this and other related questions,  

Attend our event
Thursday, 5th February 2026 12.30-14.30  Continue reading Conference: How to increase your chances to get a promotion/reclassification in 2026?

Conference: 2026 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises

We publish this early enough for you to make a start on listing your achievements, training and highlights throughout 2025 to avoid you having to hit the ground running in January. This conference explains the evaluation process and offers tips. Join us Thursday, 8 January 2026, 12:30. 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 Conference: 2026 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises

Reforming Promotion Practices for Fairness and Transparency

In recent discussions, a pressing issue has reemerged regarding the current promotion/reclassification practices in general and those within the External Action Service (EEAS) in particular. It has again come to light that the existing process poses several challenges, not only for staff members being evaluated, but also for those responsible for evaluating promotions/reclassifications. Continue reading Reforming Promotion Practices for Fairness and Transparency

EEAS: Reforming the performance appraisal system – Your Voice Matters!

On 30 June, Generation 2004 hosted an open lunchtime brainstorming session on the performance appraisal system in External Action Service (EEAS). Building on internal consultations with our members and staff representatives, we wanted to hear from all colleagues about their real-life experiences and frustrations with the current system.
Continue reading EEAS: Reforming the performance appraisal system – Your Voice Matters!

Conference: 12.06.2025 reclassification and promotion appeals, Generation 2004 is here to help

***UPDATE: You can find the link to the recording and to the presentation here.***

The 2025 draft reclassification and promotion lists will be published in Sysper on Thursday 12 June.  There are now very limited options to influence whether your name is on the final lists when they are published mid-November. We have a lunchtime event planned to explain both what happens next and what those limited options are that are available to you if you find that your name is not on that list (and you believe that it should be). Please prepare for the event and start making notes for a potential appeal. Continue reading Conference: 12.06.2025 reclassification and promotion appeals, Generation 2004 is here to help

Fair access: Advocating for function group advancement for Contract Agents

Limited job mobility for Contract AgentsContract agents (CAs) face significant barriers when seeking job security, never mind career advancement. Generation 2004 believes that this makes the Commission less attractive as an employer and further, that it negatively impacts staff morale. The availability of CA positions is scarce, and in some cases, obtaining a new job can result in a backwards move: a lower classification rather than any step up. Continue reading Fair access: Advocating for function group advancement for Contract Agents