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
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
Savings gone too far? A need for more and better contract agent advancement
First a bit of context, Contract Agent (CA) colleagues (3A and 3B together) are now 24.5% of Commission staff, that is, CAs are the second-biggest group of staff (behind the biggest group of all: administrator (AD) officials). For some time now there are more CAs than assistants (ASTs) (counting both AST officials and AST temporary agents) and yet the CA salary, job security and advancement possibilities in general remain limited in comparison to other categories of staff. Continue reading Savings gone too far? A need for more and better contract agent advancement
Mobility for contract agents 3a: priority that cannot be ignored
The subject of the internal job market and the lack of real opportunities for Contract Agents to move post (‘job mobility’) has already been raised in earlier discussions, and we have exchanged views with the administration. In our opinion it requires further attention (details of the exchange are listed under ‘references’, below this article), particularly concerning the situation of CA 3a colleagues, who regularly approach us with their concerns and frustrations. We feel it is important to restate our concerns on this matter, given the on-going challenges faced by colleagues. Continue reading Mobility for contract agents 3a: priority that cannot be ignored
Equal recognition for language exams
*Update 28.10.2025 here’s the response to our note, which makes no mention of the issue of staff being denied the opportunity to attend an in-person exam.*
*Update 18.09.2025: we’ve added a language-level-equivalence table below, many thanks to the reader who provided this. *
Original article: Here’s one more issue raised by staff: Generation 2004 was contacted by colleagues across different staff categories, including Contract Agents 3b, who were refused permission to attend in-person final exams for the in-house 12-level language courses. One reason given was that at this stage they are not required to validate their third language under the staff regulations or Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS).
Continue reading Equal recognition for language exams
JRC staff policy – high ambitions, ugly realities
Update 07.07.2025: In the meantime, the Head of Unit responsible for sacking the two Contract Agents and previously accused of harassing a number of other colleagues has been proposed for promotion with just two years of seniority in the grade, two years less than the average in that grade. What do we learn from that?
Continue reading JRC staff policy – high ambitions, ugly realities
Revisiting GIPS: a route for better conditions for contract agents
The current General Implementing Provisions (GIPs) – C(2017)6760 governing the working conditions of Contract Agents (CAs) have been in place since 2017. While these provisions contributed to better alignment of rules between CAs (3a and 3b), they still reflect some systemic inequalities faced by contract staff, who remain the most undervalued and exploited staff category. Continue reading Revisiting GIPS: a route for better conditions for contract agents
Generation 2004 is hiring a secretary in the European Commission in Brussels
For our daily work in supporting all our staff, Generation 2004 employs a team of committed and dedicated colleagues. Please do not hesitate to share this message with trustable colleagues who share our values and fulfil the conditions. If you are a Contract Agent FG II (in the Commission, trade unions and staff associations are limited to employing CAs FG II for this type of post) OR If you have a valid CAST.
Continue reading Generation 2004 is hiring a secretary in the European Commission in Brussels
