Different practices among the Commission
Generation 2004 has recently been contacted by colleagues regarding their concerns over differing practices across Commission services concerning invitations to CAST selection procedures.
Contract Agents
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.
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. Continue reading Conference: 11.06.2026 reclassification and promotion appeals, Generation 2004 is here to help
Conference: 11.06.2026 reclassification and promotion appeals, Generation 2004 is here to help
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. Continue reading Conference: 11.06.2026 reclassification and promotion appeals, Generation 2004 is here to help
Generation 2004 supports the petition in favour of Contract Agents (CA) – our support for the Contract Agents’ Collective
In the recent weeks and days, you might have received via email a petition from the ‘CA collective’. What the ‘CA collective’ is proposing is not new to us. To a large extent, it is a reflection and continuation of the positions that we, as a staff association, have been advocating for over a long period of time and aligned with our postulates for CAs.
Following the exchange of views with the colleagues involved, we understood their intentions and convictions and consequently we have decided to support the related petition. This position was re-confirmed during the conference organised on 4 May 2026.
Meeting with members: updates on key issues, exchange of views and Q&A
*Update: please find here the presentation and the recording of the webinar*
On Tuesday, 5 May 2026 at lunchtime (12:30 – 13:30) we held a meeting with members on current key issues of interest for staff. The meeting, which was held online, was a valuable opportunity for our members to receive updates on current topics, exchange views on issues affecting colleagues, and ask questions.
The agenda included particularly European Schools, competitions, social dialogue on sick leave, Large Scale Review, Contract Agents and more.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us by email or through our usual channels.
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
Breaking the glass ceiling: structural barriers facing contract agents in internal competitions
*Update 16.02.26: See the latest DG HR reply under references*
Many Contract Agents see internal competitions within the European Commission as an opportunity for professional advancement and greater career stability. However, in practice, both regulatory (see also point 17a of CAs FAQ) and operational obstacles often limit the effectiveness of these competitions. Contract agents encounter structural constraints rooted in the staff regulations (CEOS) as well as practical difficulties related to recruitment outcomes and job availability. These challenges risk undermining both staff motivation and the Commission’s ability to retain experienced personnel.
Contract Agent FAQs
As promised, please find below a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Contract Agents (CAs). The questions were harvested to a large extent from our October 2025 CA event (thanks to all who attended!) and from the many, many CA questions received via email. At Generation 2004 we find it frustrating that many discussions on improving CA situations in many different spheres are shut down with ‘well, they knew what they signed up for’. We find that this is most certainly not the case: if it is difficult even for staff representatives to know exactly which rules apply, how on earth can we expect new arrivals (newbies) or even returners (false newbies) to know? Continue reading Contract Agent FAQs
Lunchtime event: Contract Agents: key challenges and recent developments
*Update 30.10.2025, here’s the promised Contract Agent FAQs.*
*Update 29.10.2025: here is the recording and the slides.
Original article: Generation 2004 is here again to help you to know the rules that apply to you as a Contract Agents (CAs). We want you to make the best decisions you can with the information available. In the hybrid event below we plan to have around 1.5 hours to address your CA questions. We intend to gather all of your questions to make a Contract Agent frequently asked questions (FAQs) for our website. Continue reading Lunchtime event: Contract Agents: key challenges and recent developments
