Staff Categories

One more pension pitfall, or how the Commission fails to keep up

Administrators, Assistants, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-10-10, Pensions, Secretaries and clerks, Temporary Agents Print This Post

*Update 20.11.2024 We add this cross reference in relation to questions received. Even though the PSEUI does not recognise pension contributions ‘gifted’ by national schemes, it deals with non-work-related pension contributions made to its own system differently: see question 4 General pension FAQs*

Original article: It’s been some time now (in many cases decades) since it became possible to have pension contributions made on your behalf in many Member States while you are not working. These ‘gifted’ contributions might cover periods of long-term sickness, of unemployment, military service[1] or of caring responsibilities, depending on the national authority. Continue reading One more pension pitfall, or how the Commission fails to keep up →

Walking away when things go wrong? Sudan

Local Agents, Newsletter - 2023-09-08, Outside the Union Print This Post

*Update 17.04.2024 Disappointingly, we have not yet received a response to our August 2023 note. We are following up with those responsible.*

Original article: The situation in Sudan is undoubtedly difficult, with the ongoing conflict affecting the lives and well-being of the population. Our local agent (LA) colleagues in the delegation there are Continue reading Walking away when things go wrong? Sudan →

Interim staff at the Commission: FAQs

FAQs, Newsletter - 2023-09-08, place of origin, Staff Categories, Training, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 04.06.2025, we love the recent linkedin video posted by a former Blue Book trainee on the intérimaire experience.*

Original article: Here are some Generation 2004 frequently asked questions (FAQs)[1] and sources on interims, those temporary colleagues who are often expected to be up to speed and functional within a very short space of time. This can often translate in real life as being ‘thrown in at the deep end’ and expected to ‘hit the ground running’ without much information about how things really work. Continue reading Interim staff at the Commission: FAQs →

Making informed decisions: Luxembourg

Assistants, Contract Agents, Cost of living Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2023-09-08, Secretaries and clerks, Temporary Agents Print This Post

*Update 24.10.2025, while the compliance with the national minimum wage has improved, EU institutions are still doing it differently meaning that those in the Commission might still get less than their counterparts elsewhere. We’d like to see the rules to converge where these, some of the lowest-paid staff, get the most.*

Original article: Have you considered that your competition may include roles in Luxembourg? Continue reading Making informed decisions: Luxembourg →

The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ

CA screening, Contract Agents, Events, FAQs, Newsletter - 2023-07-20, Pensions Print This Post

*Update 05.11.2025, we’ve received several emails asking about a second Picard-related case. We believe that this relates to those who have become officials and so have added a heading below. If this is not what is meant by ‘Picard 2.0’ or you have any info, please share it and we’ll add it here, thanks!*

Original article: In April, we informed you during a lunchtime conference about the judgement in the Picard case and its far-reaching consequences for (former) Contract Agents (CAs) and temporary agents (TAs) or more precisely: staff that were previously covered by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS). Continue reading The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ →

Be aware of lost money for a pension transfer-in

Assistants, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-06-30, Pensions, Secretaries and clerks, Temporary Agents Print This Post

*Update 06.11.2025 here is the link to retirement info on staff matters.*

 Original article: Are you (relatively) new in the institutions? Have you worked somewhere else before and acquired pension rights in another pension scheme? Then you have surely heard about the possibilities to transfer your pension rights from your previous scheme into the EU pension scheme, a so called “transfer-in”. In an older article, we already informed you about the conversion coefficients that play a crucial role in determining how many years Continue reading Be aware of lost money for a pension transfer-in →

Generation 2004 supports staff in agencies

Agencies, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-06-30 Print This Post

The staff of the Executive agencies of the European Commission (currently CINEA, EACEA, HADEA, Eismea, ERCEA and REA) have seen their working conditions deteriorate over the years.[1] Colleagues in the agencies are facing staff reductions while the budgets that they manage increase regularly. All this in a context of precariousness and limited career and mobility possibilities! Continue reading Generation 2004 supports staff in agencies →

Minimum wage in Luxembourg for contract agents – Parliament shows the way

Contract Agents, Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2023-06-30 Print This Post

*Update 04.01.2024, our Contract Agent petition at the European Parliament is still open, please sign it!* *Update 01.09.2023: the social minimum wage for Luxembourg is now 3085.11 EUR gross (or 2570.93 EUR for unskilled workers).*

Original article: In March we wrote about a glimmer of hope for Contract Agents in Luxembourg, who are earning less than the national minimum wage and need a special allowance just to touch this very minimum. The problem is that the Commission includes a number of EU allowances when comparing the salaries to determine the amount of this special allowance (see Commission decision C(2015) 4907 and the administrative notice 07-2017, March 2017): most notably, the expatriation allowance is included in the calculation. Continue reading Minimum wage in Luxembourg for contract agents – Parliament shows the way →

Reclassification: 5 working days to appeal!

Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-06-30, reclassification Print This Post

For all contract agent (CA) colleagues not proposed for reclassification and who feel the reason is not related to performance but to other reasons: change of unit/department, parental/maternity leave, change of line manager, personal conflicts etc. you can file an appeal in Sysper. Check out our instructions and  how to draft your text and the template below. Check Ares(2021)2467829 – 12/04/2021 CSC note on CA 3a (page 3) for average reclassification speeds and note that CA 3b staff cannot be reclassified meaning that, frustratingly, no matter how good your appraisal, there are no rewards associated with it.

Continue reading Reclassification: 5 working days to appeal! →