Are you spending more than 20% of your income in education – You can apply to get support (applications until 7/11/25). While we often are critical of bad administration practices and approaches, it is fair to mention that EU Institutions have positive programmes to support colleagues in worse situations.
Continue reading Education Expenses Support – call for applications until 7/11/25
allowances
Luxembourg: Additional admin – EU education allowance and state aid
Here’s how to navigate an additional administrative burden for those of you in Luxembourg with dependent children in higher (tertiary) education. The assistance available from the Luxembourg state interacts with the EU education allowance in unexpected ways, make sure to avoid surprises! Continue reading Luxembourg: Additional admin – EU education allowance and state aid
Luxembourg Housing allowance – landing in your payslip this month!
The Luxembourg housing allowance is finally there! If you are eligible, then you should see it in your payslip for July 2025, under the code “LUX”. We will not repeat the detailed conditions that you must fulfil to receive it: you can look them up Staff Centre.
Continue reading Luxembourg Housing allowance – landing in your payslip this month!
Marriage or Partnership? When EU Law Falls Behind Member States
*Update 02.07.2025 we have corrected several points in the article below and apologise for any confusion caused.*
Original article: Have you ever wondered why, in a progressive and inclusive European Union, your registered partnership – fully recognised by your region or Member State as equivalent to marriage – may still be treated as ‘less than’ by the EU institutions’ social security systems?
Continue reading Marriage or Partnership? When EU Law Falls Behind Member States
Child Allowance and Scholarships – When the Commission gets tangled up in its own bureaucracy
Staff members with dependent children receive a household allowance, a dependent child allowance and, under certain conditions, an education allowance. For adult children between the ages of 18 and 26, the continued payment of these allowances and further tax reductions are subject to the adult child receiving educational or vocational training. Continue reading Child Allowance and Scholarships – When the Commission gets tangled up in its own bureaucracy
EEAS: The Future of Housing in EU Delegations: A Call for Fair and Transparent Reform
The housing policy for EU Delegations has long been a critical element in ensuring the efficiency, well-being, and security of staff posted to more than 144 locations across the globe. However, recent discussions about a potential reform of the housing policy have raised serious concerns among colleagues, particularly regarding the motivations behind this review and its potential impact on staff morale, effectiveness, and living conditions. Continue reading EEAS: The Future of Housing in EU Delegations: A Call for Fair and Transparent Reform
Brave new world at the Commission: the day the staff representation was abolished
I wake up and it is just another ordinary day. I prepare breakfast and get my child ready. Then head to the crèche before going to the office. But to my great surprise, the crèche is closed. Nobody seems to be around. When I finally spot someone I know, I ask what is going on. Maybe a strike? “Not really. Weren’t you informed? Continue reading Brave new world at the Commission: the day the staff representation was abolished
Housing allowance in Luxembourg – finally!
*Update 04.06.2025: Watch out for your notification of entitlement to the new housing allowance via sysper. If you have received nothing by 13.06.2025, check that your place of employment, grade, civil status and place of residence as recorded in Sysper are correct. The contact for all questions is the Staff Center. There are also 2 EU Learn – Information session on housing allowance available
- Tuesday 10 June at 10:00 in French
- Wednesday 11 June at 10:00 in English*
End of service: IT access
This topic came out of our October sessions on pensions but the information is applicable to anyone leaving the Commission whether that’s at the end of a contract, to retire or for several other reasons. According to your circumstances, you might need access to the IT systems to submit medical costs, to get certificates or to manage the EU unemployment allowance[1]. Continue reading End of service: IT access
The shark attack! Place of origin losses
In the past few months, Generation 2004 published several articles on the Court of Justice’s April 2024 judgement on the place of origin. The issue contested was the 2014 staff regulations reform which moved all places of origin located outside the EU to the capital city of the staff Member State. The colleagues won their case, reinstating the real place of origin. We provided an analysis on repercussions on staff and mentioned that Generation 2004 was in close contact with the administration to mitigate as much as possible the negative effects of the judgement that has negatively affected approximately 300 colleagues. Continue reading The shark attack! Place of origin losses
