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
Equality
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
Equal recognition for language exams
*Update 18.09.2025: we’ve added a language-level-equivalence table below, many thanks to the reader who provided this. *
Original article: Here’s one more issue raised by staff: Generation 2004 was contacted by colleagues across different staff categories, including Contract Agents 3b, who were refused permission to attend in-person final exams for the in-house 12-level language courses. One reason given was that at this stage they are not required to validate their third language under the staff regulations or Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS).
Continue reading Equal recognition for language exams
What Do Staff Representatives Work On?
If you’re facing a problem at work, have a question about your rights, or need help navigating a difficult situation, you don’t have to go through it alone. Staff representatives are here to listen, guide, and support colleagues regardless of staff category or contract type. Being a staff representative means more than attending meetings.
Continue reading What Do Staff Representatives Work On?
Telework from elsewhere or anywhere or abroad?
*Update 25.09.2025 The outcome of the court case related to the removal of the expatriation allowance for some staff in the Parliament while working from outside the place of employment during Covid is added as footnote [**].*
Original article: Generation 2004 has consistently asked for an extension of the current 10-day quota to telework from anywhere (also sometimes erroneously called ‘telework from abroad’) (TWA). DG HR’s often-used argument to reject this request is that the average use of this possibility remains well below the 10 days given.
Continue reading Telework from elsewhere or anywhere or abroad?
Brussels Canteens: rising prices, shrinking wages
Price increase confirmed – Generation 2004 calls for support for the most vulnerable. Meal prices in the European Commission’s canteens in Brussels are set to increase by 4.2%, as confirmed by the Head of Unit responsible for the catering in OIB, during the Local Staff Committee Brussels (LSC Brussels) meeting on Tuesday 1 July.
Continue reading Brussels Canteens: rising prices, shrinking wages
Qualified but discounted: The hidden injustice in EU hiring
Many colleagues across the EU institutions are increasingly frustrated by outdated and overly rigid eligibility rules in EPSO competitions, institutional vacancy notices and CAST recruitment. One of the most problematic aspects is the requirement that only professional experience acquired after obtaining the minimum required qualification counts toward eligibility.
Continue reading Qualified but discounted: The hidden injustice in EU hiring
Revisiting GIPS: a route for better conditions for contract agents
The current General Implementing Provisions (GIPs) – C(2017)6760 governing the working conditions of Contract Agents (CAs) have been in place since 2017. While these provisions contributed to better alignment of rules between CAs (3a and 3b), they still reflect some systemic inequalities faced by contract staff, who remain the most undervalued and exploited staff category. Continue reading Revisiting GIPS: a route for better conditions for contract agents
Time for change: out-of-date restrictions on assisted fertility?
Let the European Institutions lead the way forward, not hold us back with outdated rules. In a world where medical science is advancing rapidly and professional careers increasingly shape personal timelines, the EU institutions and their Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) must ensure policies keep pace with technical and societal advances and follow the best practices seen in Member States. Commission Decision C(2023) 7673, updates its 2007 predecessor in order to broaden access to parenthood, but does it go far enough? Continue reading Time for change: out-of-date restrictions on assisted fertility?
Breaking news: You can now combine parental leave with TWA
*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those TWA days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*
Original article: Generation 2004 is glad to announce that from now on, you can combine any type of leave – including parental leave – with teleworking from outside the place of employment, or teleworking from anywhere (TWA). We particularly thank Mr Quest, the Director-General of HR for his positive reply to our long-standing request
Continue reading Breaking news: You can now combine parental leave with TWA
