In recent discussions, a pressing issue has reemerged regarding the current promotion/reclassification practices in general and those within the External Action Service (EEAS) in particular. It has again come to light that the existing process poses several challenges, not only for staff members being evaluated, but also for those responsible for evaluating promotions/reclassifications. Continue reading Reforming Promotion Practices for Fairness and Transparency
Staff Categories
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
AST/SC – Forgotten in Delegation while the Commission does its own thing?
In a recent internal communication on the 2026 Delegation rotation exercise [*], the European Commission announced opportunities for AST and AD staff to take up posts in European External Action Service (EEAS) Delegations around the world. Yet, one function group was (again) clearly overlooked. AST/SC staff are not even mentioned there, you have to dig to find any mention of this function group. Continue reading AST/SC – Forgotten in Delegation while the Commission does its own thing?
Training offer: AST – Certification interview
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is offering online trainings to assist you in preparing for the Certification Interviews. The training is in EN, the registrations are on a “first come first served” basis and there is a special rate for all colleagues who want to register. Additionaly to the below training offer, here is a free video. Continue reading Training offer: AST – Certification interview
Certification: Free conference
**Update 02.10.2025: check our training offer for AST Certifiction interview (limited spots) *Update 30.09.2025 : Here are the presentation and the recording. The deadline for applications to the certification process of this year is Monday 29th September at 23:59 (Brussels time). For the Commission there will be a maximum of 50 AST 5 (step 2 and higher) colleagues who will have the chance to be selected to potentially join the AD function group after intensive training and examinations. Continue reading Certification: Free conference
Free Training – EPSO AD7 Building Management (4 fields)
*update 30.09.2024 : Here is the recording and the presentation Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you a free online training webinar where we will analyse the new selection procedure announced in EPSO/AD/425/25 – Administrators (AD 7) for experts in the Building management area (4 different fields).
Continue reading Free Training – EPSO AD7 Building Management (4 fields)
EEAS: Serving in the European Union’s diplomatic service
Serving in the European Union’s diplomatic service, particularly in EU Delegations around the world, is a role rich with complexity and significance. These delegations are the global outposts of the European External Action Service (EEAS), tasked with representing the EU in myriad geopolitical contexts. Continue reading EEAS: Serving in the European Union’s diplomatic service
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
Is Modernisation Just a New Word for Austerity?
The President has tasked Commissioner Serafin to ensure that Europe can draw on “a modern, efficient public administration” and has invited him to carry out a ‘large-scale review of the Commission’s organisation and operations’. The first question we can already ask is: Who will be the corresponding ‘high-level reflection group’ and what will be the selection process for that group? Continue reading Is Modernisation Just a New Word for Austerity?
