Working conditions

Generation 2004 Brussels is urgently looking for a Trainee in Communication & Social Media

Generation 2004 Brussels is urgently looking for a Trainee in Communication & Social Media.  For our daily work, Generation 2004 employs a team of committed and dedicated colleagues. We are looking for a trainee who is : A Student in Communication, Public Relations, Digital Media, Marketing, or related fields.
Continue reading Generation 2004 Brussels is urgently looking for a Trainee in Communication & Social Media

Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker: Breaking the Menopause Taboo: What You, Your Partner, and Your Colleagues Need to Know.

Do you have a partner whose reactions seem unusual to you? Do you have a colleague who has recently been more often ill or absent, when it was rarely the case before? Have you ever felt that your memory is failing, your emotions fluctuate, your body goes from hot to cold and vice versa without warning, you have joint and muscle pain, you can’t sleep at night, etc.?
Continue reading Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker: Breaking the Menopause Taboo: What You, Your Partner, and Your Colleagues Need to Know.

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

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

Supporting Prevention and Respect at Work: Generation 2004 Met the Chief Confidential Counsellor

Generation 2004 recently met with the Chief Confidential Counsellor (CCC), the authority on the topic of workplace bullying and harassment, to explore how we can strengthen cooperation, increase visibility of the network of confidential counsellors, and further promote a genuine culture of bullying prevention and of mutual respect across the European Commission.  Appointed in September 2024, the Chief Confidential Counsellor leads a dedicated team of around twenty trained counsellors. Continue reading Supporting Prevention and Respect at Work: Generation 2004 Met the Chief Confidential Counsellor

Large-Scale Review: déjà vu?

*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’).

Continue reading Large-Scale Review: déjà vu?

LUNCHTIME CONFERENCE WITH INSPIRING GUEST SPEAKER: COLLEAGUES HELPING COLLEAGUES – the Burnout Support Network

*Update 30.10.2025: here is the recording and the contact slides. Thanks to the >270 colleagues who attended.

Original article: Do you feel constantly overwhelmed, deeply exhausted, scared to go in BURNOUT ? Maybe you are there already. Or just care for a friend, a colleague and want to help… Discover the Burnout Support Network with one of the co-founders. Continue reading LUNCHTIME CONFERENCE WITH INSPIRING GUEST SPEAKER: COLLEAGUES HELPING COLLEAGUES – the Burnout Support Network

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 

Justice Won:  Egg-Freezing Costs Reimbursed after appeal 

We are happy to share a success story from one of our members that can be a source of inspiration for others in the same situation.  Sometimes, change begins with one person refusing to accept a negative.  Check JSIS reimbursement sheets for instructions on how to challenge non-reimbursement or check the other options available: sometimes insistence pays off! If you get stuck, we’re here for you!

Continue reading Justice Won:  Egg-Freezing Costs Reimbursed after appeal 

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

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?