Staff Categories

Brexit update: UK-only TA/CA staff: transparency in application of criteria please

A quick update and reminder of the context: the assurances given to staff with UK-only nationality that they ‘will continue their career with the Commission’ post Brexit (19.1.2021) do not apply to our colleagues with time-limited contracts.  Decisions on their future are being taken using these criteria on a ‘case-by-case assessment’ with results expected now, in March 2021 [1]. Continue reading Brexit update: UK-only TA/CA staff: transparency in application of criteria please

Certification: you asked, we answer!

You asked us (conference, 28.1.2021) how many assistants (ASTs) successfully complete the certification process (no mean feat!) but do not find an administrator (AD) post.[*] This information is not so readily available but we’re good at digging and we asked HR to fill in some blanks and clear up discrepancies.

We count 1097 successful officials (the certifiés/those ’certified’ as apt [1]) in total from all 15 certification procedures to date (2005-2019 [2]) using HR reports for 2015 and 2019, together with administrative notices. HR confirms this count but provides figures which differ slightly from those published (see updated tables below [3]). Continue reading Certification: you asked, we answer!

2021 Contract Agent Mobility exercise – Please let us know your challenges!

In the 2021 exercise Generation 2004 noted that following the conclusion of the first phase of the mobility exercise, a significant number of Contract Agents (CAs) [1]:

    • did not receive an invitation for an interview from any of the five countries in which they had expressed an interest:
    • did not receive an offer for any of the five countries in which they had expressed an interest.

Continue reading 2021 Contract Agent Mobility exercise – Please let us know your challenges!

Certified ASTs: an endangered species?

*20.10.2022–14.12.2022: Evaluation and pre-selection of eligible applications by the DGs/Services for 2022/23 exercise*

Belated congratulations to our 42 colleagues declared certifié in December 2020 *and 44 from 2021* they now finally begin the very last stage in this long and arduous quest, that of finding an AD post, well done and good luck in your search! Continue reading Certified ASTs: an endangered species?

Generation 2004 is hiring a 50% time Secretary at the European Commission in Brussels

For our daily work ‘For the many, not the few’ Generation 2004 employs a team of committed and hardworking colleagues.

Generation 2004 is hiring a 50% time secretary for its headquarters in Brussels (depending on future availability this might become 100%). If you are a Contract Agent FG II you can join the team. If you are not eligible but you know someone who is (or who is listed in a valid FG II CAST list or higher) and that you believe could be interested in the job, please feel free to forward this vacancy. Continue reading Generation 2004 is hiring a 50% time Secretary at the European Commission in Brussels

Local agents update

Implementation of the new package for local agents (LAs)

While the administration commits to get the large number of EU Delegation exceptions (‘derogations’) ready for a decision by February 2021, it means the entire package will not be available for LAs to decide until then. In this latest update to this ongoing issue, Generation 2004 urges all LA colleagues to ensure that they fully understand the entire package before they make their decision as it is likely to be irreversible. Continue reading Local agents update

Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) open for contract agents – or not

DG Human Resources and Security (DG HR) has recently announced changes to the Junior Professionals Programme (JPP). The most important change is that now all Contract Agents (CAs), from function group 1 (FGI) to 3 (FGIII), can apply for the programme [1]. Sounds too good to be true? Congratulations for recognising this, you are definitely an experienced colleague at the Commission.

Continue reading Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) open for contract agents – or not

Office-space reorganisation: reply from DG Trade

Generation 2004 sent a note to Ms WEYAND, Director-General of DG Trade on 4 November 2020 to request clarification on their plans for an office-space reorganisation.

We were contacted in relation to plans to move only assistants/secretaries and clerks (ASTs/AST-SCs) and Contract Agents (CAs) into shared Offices.

Continue reading Office-space reorganisation: reply from DG Trade

Finally – reimbursement of teleworking costs

Yes, we can! This is the bottom line of this article. Yes, we can convince the Commission to do the right thing, even if it takes a lot of pressure (and more pressure) and  notes (and more notes). After many discussions and meetings, DG HR has agreed in its Coronavirus update #23 to reimburse the costs for a screen and an ergonomic chair with ceilings of €150 and €200, respectively. While the reimbursement process has only just been set out [1] (and for seconded national experts (SNEs) is still being worked on [2]), this is a huge win for our colleagues, and we take the opportunity to thank all of you who have supported us during the last 8 months while we fought this uphill battle. A special thanks goes to the colleagues who used our template to request a reimbursement. While DG HR has refused these Art. 90.1 requests, the sheer number of them proved that there is a real need. This is your victory.

Continue reading Finally – reimbursement of teleworking costs