We start with a story[1]. There was once an EU Member State whose government was repeatedly named as a cause for concern with regards to its record on the rule of law (2020, European Parliament), the rights of women (2022, UN) and those of minorities (2022, Amnesty International) That government was also named as a cause of concern with regards to allegations of oppressing independent journalists and media freedom (2023, MFRR)[2]. Continue reading It’s all about our rights!
Working conditions
Education allowances – Higher education
Are you a parent navigating the complexities of higher education allowances for your dependent child? This informative session, organised by PMO, might be interesting for you. It will focus on the various types of allowances available and the essential steps to complete the education declaration in Sysper for the 2024/25 academic year.
Continue reading Education allowances – Higher education
Conference: transfer-out of pension rights
*Update 03.10.2024 a transfer out to a PMO-approved scheme, such as the one presented by the (external) Allianz broker is only one of several options available.*
*Update 01.10.2024 full list of PMO-approved schemes added.* *Update 26.09.2024 footnote on local agents added below.* Continue reading Conference: transfer-out of pension rights
Housing allowance in Luxembourg – where are we?
In an article published on 18 June 2024, the Luxembourg Times dropped a bombshell: EU staff in Luxembourg to receive 500 € monthly housing allowance, followed up with news that 4 institutions are to pay that allowance (unfortunately, both articles are behind a paywall). To summarise the info provided there:
Continue reading Housing allowance in Luxembourg – where are we?
More clarity about the changes to the annual travel allowance
*Update 16.09.2024 we have received no response to our May note as yet.*
Original article: In our May newsletter, we informed you about the changes to the annual travel payment following a recent judgement by the Court in case C‑567/22 P. Before the judgement and following the 2014 reform of the staff regulations, colleagues with a place of origin outside the EU had their place of origin moved fictionally to the capital city of the Member State of their EU nationality. Continue reading More clarity about the changes to the annual travel allowance
Upholding flexibility offered by Third-party option in Mobility.net
*Update 14.10.2024 Luxembourg-based colleagues, the maximum reimbursement (‘ceiling’) for cross-border commuter passes has been doubled to €500 from 01.10.2024.*
*Update 15.07.2024 Check out ‘A new tool for reimbursement’ in the Brussels Green Commuting Communication on MyIntracomm. It promises reimbursement of Brussels transport tickets without having to wait for them to expire. Have you managed to do this? Please let us know!*
Continue reading Upholding flexibility offered by Third-party option in Mobility.net
Ignored efforts: Unfair outcomes
*Update 07.08.2024: answer from HR to our note. Generation 2004 wrote to DG HR to point out a disparity in treatment faced by colleagues involved in the Selection Boards of Competitions. Those present on these boards represent either the staff representation or our own HR (‘the administration’) and all of them invest a considerable time and effort.
Social security fairness for non-permanent staff
***Update 30.07.2024 DG HR position on the payment of unemployment insurance by CAs on permanent (‘indeterminate duration’) contracts (3A)***
Generation2004 believes that the regulation governing social security contributions and pensions can be tricky, to say the least. Unlike officials, contract and temporary agents find themselves subject to additional deductions labelled as CCA ‘Unemployment insurance (personal contribution)’ code on their payslip, referring specifically to unemployment insurance Continue reading Social security fairness for non-permanent staff
Securing pensions for Contract & Temporary Agents during unemployment
Your Contract Agent CA3B (or a different non-permanent) contract at the European Commission has ended. Despite your determination to continue contributing to the EU project, you can no longer work directly for the Commission (e.g. you have reached six years as CA3B). You can work for another institution or for the Commission, but on a different contract than CA3B.
Continue reading Securing pensions for Contract & Temporary Agents during unemployment
Automatic declarations of Belgian Third-party allowances announced by PMO
European Union staff has the right to 3 types of family allowances: household allowance, dependent child allowance, school allowance. The statutory provisions (articles 67 § 2 and article 68 § 2 of the staff regulations) foresee rules against the overlapping of all family allowances granted by the European Union and received from other sources.
Continue reading Automatic declarations of Belgian Third-party allowances announced by PMO
