As promised, please find below a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Contract Agents (CAs). The questions were harvested to a large extent from our October 2025 CA event (thanks to all who attended!) and from the many, many CA questions received via email. At Generation 2004 we find it frustrating that many discussions on improving CA situations in many different spheres are shut down with ‘well, they knew what they signed up for’. We find that this is most certainly not the case: if it is difficult even for staff representatives to know exactly which rules apply, how on earth can we expect new arrivals (newbies) or even returners (false newbies) to know? Continue reading Contract Agent FAQs
Staff Categories
Lunchtime event: Contract Agents: key challenges and recent developments
*Update 30.10.2025, here’s the promised Contract Agent FAQs.*
*Update 29.10.2025: here is the recording and the slides.
Original article: Generation 2004 is here again to help you to know the rules that apply to you as a Contract Agents (CAs). We want you to make the best decisions you can with the information available. In the hybrid event below we plan to have around 1.5 hours to address your CA questions. We intend to gather all of your questions to make a Contract Agent frequently asked questions (FAQs) for our website. Continue reading Lunchtime event: Contract Agents: key challenges and recent developments
Training offer: EPSO AST3 in Communication – Exam exercises
Our Training partner Yasemos Europeos, has a special offer with a 10% discount rate for our members. The package contains: self-study exam packages for practising the different tests. There are 2 package options available: EXAM 1 + PRE-EXAM session (live online via ZOOM, link will be published in participants training platform profiles) EXAM 1 (only 1 mock exam for practice with NO pre-exam session).
Continue reading Training offer: EPSO AST3 in Communication – Exam exercises
Internal Competitions 2025: A Missed Promise of Inclusion
Many of you contacted us about the publication of the second of the promised internal competitions: the specialist AD7/AD9 financial risk management. We agree, we too were disappointed: this was not the new approach for internal competitions announced in February 2025, that of internal competitions being open to colleagues from other function groups (yes, the Parliament’s been doing this for years, but at the Commission it’s new). Continue reading Internal Competitions 2025: A Missed Promise of Inclusion
Reforming Promotion Practices for Fairness and Transparency
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
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)
