Staff Categories

The institutions implement the Picard judgement – sort of … FAQ

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

*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

*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

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

*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

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! →

End of service: informed decisions please!

allowances, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2023-06-30, Temporary Agents, Working conditions

*Update 09.01.2025 Please be aware of the end of contract admin and that the payment of the EU unemployment allowance (the extra, supplementary part) is not automatic: it must be requested and the deadline is very short: ‘within eight days after your contract ends, submit a formal application for EU unemployment allowance’ (p.7, Practical Guide, August 2023).* Continue reading End of service: informed decisions please! →

Lunchtime conference: the Picard case

CA screening, Contract Agents, Events, Newsletter - 2023-04-20, Pensions

*Update 23.06.2023: HR MyIntracomm article.* Do you want to know more about the recent Picard judgement C-366/21 P concerning Contract Agent (CA) pension rights? This case has repercussions on pension accrual and also on retirement age. We presented the different aspects of the judgement in this during our lunch-time conference. You can find the recorded video and the PowerPoint presentation  here.

Continue reading Lunchtime conference: the Picard case →

Certification 2022/23: the road ahead

Assistants, Certification, Newsletter - 2023-03-30

The 2022/23 Certification exercise is still moving forward: from 294 eligible candidates to 104 individuals chosen for Joint Certification Panel interviews, to the April publication of the final list of 50 officials authorised to take part in the Certification training programme (the list will be published in Administrative Notices, in 2022 it was done on 12 April) and subsequent exams[1]. Well done to the 32 colleagues who appealed their non-inclusion post-DG interview,  4 of whom were successful: it is possible! Unfortunately, Certification continues to be a labour-intensive and time-consuming process which is not particularly user-friendly (see diagram for evidence of this). Continue reading Certification 2022/23: the road ahead →

Ongoing difficulties for Local agents in Delegation Türkiye

EEAS, Local Agents, Newsletter - 2023-04-20, Outside the Union

*Update 29.09.2022 Local Agents in Türkiye are now being paid in euro, thank you all for your support!* Original article: Generation 2004 finds the situation for Local agents in Delegation Türkiye frustrating. We urge the administration to do the right thing: uphold the rule of law and principle of equal treatment.  Abide by the outcome of the court case and comply with the instructions of the court.  The pretext/excuse of a “lack of administrative” budget does not hold water. Losing a court case is not a daily operational business and therefore no institution should expect to be able to meet the financial liabilities under that business-as-usual budget item. Continue reading Ongoing difficulties for Local agents in Delegation Türkiye →

Minimum wage in Luxembourg for contract agents – finally a glimmer of hope

Contract Agents, Cost of living Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Newsletter - 2023-03-30

*Update 01.09.2023: the social minimum wage for Luxembourg is now 3085.11 EUR gross (or 2570.93 EUR for unskilled workers).**Update: see our June article on the good example being set by the Parliament.* Original article: Many colleagues struggle today with the high level of inflation and the increased costs of living. But already before the current economic crisis, the situation was difficult for colleagues in Luxembourg with a low salary. While money can’t buy happiness, it does certainly help: Luxembourg’s levels of happiness have also fallen. Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage in Europe, with a minimum of 2 936.48 EUR for qualified workers (as of 1 February 2023 – the corresponding inflation index has a value of 898.93 points and 100 points equal an amount of 326.66 EUR). Continue reading Minimum wage in Luxembourg for Contract Agents – finally a glimmer of hope →