Staff Categories

Reclassification and promotion exercises 2024 : Congratulations

Generation 2004 wishes to congratulate all Contract Agents 3a for their well-deserved advancement (‘reclassification‘), together with the officials and local agents in representations who were promoted. We trust our webinar on drafting self-appraisals, our support to individual requests from colleagues to review their self-assessments and our advice on how to draft an appeal helped in the reclassification exercise. 

Continue reading Reclassification and promotion exercises 2024 : Congratulations

Reducing budgetary loss while granting fairer contract agents contracts  

The importance of Contract Agents to the Commission.  Contract Agents play a crucial role in the functioning of the European Commission. They provide specialised support across a wide range of areas and contribute significantly to the achievement of the institution’s objectives. Their expertise is indispensable, and they often perform tasks that are vital to the daily operations of various departments.  However, despite their importance, Contract Agents are not always sufficiently appreciated or valued.  Continue reading Reducing budgetary loss while granting fairer contract agents contracts  

The first staff regulation reform: a new underclass (long read)

Original article: In 2004, Mr. Neil Kinnock who was the Commission’s Vice-President & Commissioner responsible for the Administrative Reform, delivered his masterpiece: The (first) Staff Regulation Reform.  Among the many changes and novelties proposed in the drafts for this ground-breaking reform, was a reduction in the use of Contract Agents (CAs). Incredible, eh? Continue reading The first staff regulation reform: a new underclass (long read)

Free conference: Contract Agents career & Review of the Temporary Staff decision

*Update 20.12.2024, Here’s our Note to HR on European Court of Auditors Special report.pdf

*Update 02.12.2024* Here are the recording and the presentation 1 and 2

Original article: Do you need clarification concerning the career of Contract Agents? Would you like to learn more about the career duration and current options available for advancement? Have you heard about the 7-year rule and ever wondered what it implies in practice and how it has been recently applied?

Continue reading Free conference: Contract Agents career & Review of the Temporary Staff decision

Generation 2004: Your Voice in the European Commission 

At the European Commission, staff representation is the cornerstone of ensuring fairness and equality in the workplace. Whether you’re a newcomer or a long-serving colleague, understanding how that representation works and why it matters is essential. Generation 2004 is here to ensure that your voice is heard, that your concerns are addressed, and that your workplace evolves to meet your needs.  Continue reading Generation 2004: Your Voice in the European Commission 

AST & AST-SC staff: ECA Report Highlights Long-Standing Career Challenges

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation.* Continue reading AST & AST-SC staff: ECA Report Highlights Long-Standing Career Challenges

Free Training – EPSO AD7 Scientific Research (10 fields)

*Update 17/12/24: ATTENTION: The follow up training (YSE- FRSTQ+WRITTEN tests training), additional to our below free training is full and registrations are closed.  *Update 12/11/2024.  Here are the recording and the slides of the session. Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is offering for free and for all staff, an online webinar to assist you in preparing for the EPSO competition – AD7 Scientific Research competitions (10 fields).  You will get tips for the application process and an analysis of the tests. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. The session will be in English.
Continue reading Free Training – EPSO AD7 Scientific Research (10 fields)

‘Contract agents collective’ petition: to sign or not to sign?  

*Update 20.12.2024, Here’s our Note to HR on European Court of Auditors Special report.pdf.*

Original article: Many of you will have recently received a message from a ‘contract agents collective’ and lots are reaching out to us for more details on this initiative and to ask whether we recommend signing the petition. Despite some informal, last-minute communication, this petition has come a little out of the blue to us. 

Continue reading Contract Agents collective’ petition: to sign or not to sign?  

ASTs: exploited and forgotten or given a future? 

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. Participation in these competitions can be done in parallel to the certification: use all your options!* Continue reading ASTs: exploited and forgotten or given a future?