Staff Categories

Breaking the glass ceiling: structural barriers facing contract agents in internal competitions

Contract Agents, Newsletter-2026-02-26

*Update 16.02.26: See the latest DG HR reply under references*

Many Contract Agents see internal competitions within the European Commission as an opportunity for professional advancement and greater career stability. However, in practice, both regulatory (see also point 17a of CAs FAQ) and operational obstacles often limit the effectiveness of these competitions. Contract agents encounter structural constraints rooted in the staff regulations (CEOS) as well as practical difficulties related to recruitment outcomes and job availability. These challenges risk undermining both staff motivation and the Commission’s ability to retain experienced personnel. 

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Training offer: Study groups 2 for EPSO competitions AD5 Generalists/Graduates

Administrators, EPSO, Events, Newsletter-2026-01-13

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to invite you to the second round of online training for the competition for AD5 Generalists/Graduates, with a special discount rate for our members. The offer contains modules in English as well as in Spanish and sessions will be recorded.

 

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Is The New Decision on Geographical balance going to work?

Administrators, diversity & inclusion, Newsletter-2025-12-19

On 6 November 2025 the Commission adopted a decision aimed at enhancing the geographical diversity among its staff. Stephen QUEST, Director-General of DG HR, hailed it as an introduction of measures designed to attract individuals from underrepresented countries to join the Commission.  

 

 

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Unjust Dismissals in EU Delegations: A Dangerous Start to Delegations “Modernisation”

Local Agents, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Outside the Union

Staff representation organisations have jointly raised serious concerns regarding the modernisation of the EU Delegation network and, more specifically, the Commission’s proposal to dismiss up to 29 Local Agents (LAs) in the Western Balkans.  In the Delegations concerned, this represents a very significant share of Local Agents in core functions such as Finance, Contracts and Audit, in several cases approaching half of the workforce in those sections.  

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Training Offer: EPSO AD7 Data experts (in LUX) – Study group for reasoning, MCQ and written tests

Administrators, EPSO, Events, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Training

*Update 15.05.2026. Since the competition candidates already took their exams, the Study group is already CLOSED. Therefore register link and the corresponding discount codes are no longer available*.

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training with Study group for reasoning, MCQ and written tests for the AD7 Data experts competition.  There is a special discount rate for our members ONLY and registrations are made on “first come first served basis”.

 

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Free conference: EPSO AD7 Data management & data knowledge (Luxembourg)

Administrators, EPSO, Events, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Training

*Update 26.11.2025, here are the slides and the recording *Update 19.11.2025: Due to unexpected technical bugs, the conference is posponed to Wednesday 26/11.  Our apologies for inconvenience.  Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos,  is happy to invite  you to a free conference for the competition for AD7 Data management & data knowledge (Luxembourg).  You will get tips and trick on how to fill in the application and you will be able to ask your questions.

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Training offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Generalists/Graduates

Administrators, EPSO, Events, Training

*Update 09.01.2026: the study groups in English and Spanish are now full. Registration is therefore closed, and the registration links and corresponding discount codes are no longer available.
If you are interested, please refer to Study groups 2.*

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to invite  you to online training for the competition for AD5 Generalists/Graduates, with a special discount rate for our members. The offer contains modules in English as well as in Spanish and sessions will be recorded.
Continue reading Training offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Generalists/Graduates →

Teleworking for Local Agents: Time for Fairness, Flexibility, and Trust

commuting, EEAS, Equality, Local Agents, Newsletter-2025-10-30, Staff Categories, Working conditions

Teleworking is no longer a privilege – it is a modern and effective way of working that supports productivity, motivation, and work-life balance across the European External Action Service (EEAS).  Yet for Local Agents (LAs) working in EU Delegations around the world, the rules on teleworking remain inconsistent, restrictive, and overly-dependent on local interpretations. Only 1 day of working from home is currently available for local agent colleagues. Continue reading Teleworking for Local Agents: Time for Fairness, Flexibility, and Trust →

Large-Scale Review: déjà vu?

Events, Newsletter-2025-10-30, Social Dialogue, Staff Categories, Staff Regulations Reform, Working conditions

*Update 05.11.2025 we have seen the article suggesting ending the EU civil service and are evaluating its content. We intend to attend the staff event on the large-scale review of the Commission on Friday 21 November, as we encourage you all to do also.*

Original article: We intend to address the issues raised there in our response to the large scae review.* Generation 2004 invites all colleagues to a brainstorming session on the Large-Scale Review – the new reflection exercise launched by the Commission to assess its structure and functioning.  While the official message speaks of modernisation, agility and simplification, many colleagues are sceptical. We have seen in the past – in 2004 and 2014 – how such exercises ended in reforms that weakened staff rights and career prospects (‘perspectives’).

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Contract Agent FAQs

Contract Agents, FAQs, Newsletter-2025-10-30

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 →