After “enjoying” a lengthy period of numerous elections, we thought that you deserve a bit of lighter communications and topic. Our Offices have been decorated with electoral posters from the garages to the rooftops. Now, something has to be done about it.
Continue reading Post-Election ORIGAMI Competition
Update 09.07.2025: a message from our guest speaker : ‘I wanted to share a few key insights that resonated with me following our session: “The less story I see, the more present I am.” This simple truth captured the heart of our time together—how much we add to what we experience, and how liberating it can be to simply be’. Recording and slides
Continue reading Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker: Breaking the Silence – You Are Not Alone in the Struggle
On 25 March 2025, Generation 2004 External Action Service (EEAS) section hosted a conference addressing the pressing challenges within the European Schools (ESS) system. The event witnessed robust participation, with a full room of colleagues and approximately 30-35 online attendees from the EEAS and the European Commission, all deeply engaged in discussions about the future of our children’s education. Continue reading Urgent Call for Reform in European Schools
Efforts to make the Commission greener and hence more reliant on rail for business travel (‘missions’) make perfect sense. Unfortunately, they quickly hit a buffer – pun intended. In fact, you often don’t even run the risk of boarding a train in the first place. This is because, for those of you using the online booking tool (NEO) and the travel agency behind it, there is no offer of suitable train journeys. Even though the NEO shortcomings are well known, nothing has changed. Continue reading No departures from this station – why NEO remains utterly inadequate to plan missions by train
What is GIPS Article 13 (CA screening) and who can benefit from it ? Article 13 of the general implementing provisions (GIPs) for Article 79(2) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) provides a pathway for Contract Agents engaged under article 3a of the CEOS [*] to advance to a higher function group (so-called CA screening), provided they meet certain conditions. Continue reading Unlocking Career progression for Contract Agents: untapped potential of GIPS Article 13
The mental health and well-being of children in European Schools (ESS) should be a top priority for the European Schools as well as for the European institutions. Nevertheless, many parents within our community have raised serious concerns about the lack of psychological support, insufficient supervision, and how the system fails to address emotional distress among students. Continue reading Protecting Our Children’s Mental Health: Urgent Reforms Needed in European Schools
*Update 26.08.2025 here’s the new link with instructions on how to encode those TWA/TWOPE days, note that even Blue Book trainees can have 5 days.*
Original article: An already-outdated policy in a new era of work? The need for teleworking change, especially within the External Action Service (EEAS) and Brussels (‘HQ’) rules. In a world where remote work has proven not only feasible but often preferable, the teleworking and teleworking from anywhere (TWA) policies remain a little too rigid and, to many, stuck in the past.
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Our guest Mário Tenreiro, one of our colleagues, is a certified Mediator with a specialty in Family Mediation. He will be happy to share his knowledge and answer your questions. Continue reading Conference – Finding peace in family conflict: The power of mediation
Generation 2004 has been at the forefront of advocating for Contract Agents, consistently pushing for fairer employment conditions, better career prospects, and greater recognition of their contributions. Over the years, we have actively engaged with the administration, raising awareness of the systemic challenges contract agents face: barriers to career advancement, limited access to internal competitions, unfair contractual terms, and restricted mobility within the institution. Continue reading 10 Postulates for fairness – A better future for Contract Agents
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
