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
Staff Categories
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)
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
