Commission doubles down: You don’t own your mobile phone any longer 

Cyber-security, Data Protection, Newsletter-2025-10-07, well-being, Working conditions, workplace bullying and harassment Print This Post

*Update 08.10.2025: the information below was correct at the time of publication. Subsequent (unpublished) changes might have made some parts obsolete: when we receive communication detailing the changes we’ll update this article.*

As explained in our event “Who owns your mobile phone?”, the Commission is not just setting a questionable example of unsuccessfully respecting staff privacy, it is doubling down on that choice and working on granting itself formal permission to commandeer your mobile phone. The Commission is in the process of drafting a formal decision. Continue reading Commission doubles down: You don’t own your mobile phone any longer  →

Training offer: AST – Certification interview

Assistants, Certification, Events, Newsletter-2025-10-07, Staff Categories, Training Print This Post

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is offering online trainings  to assist you in preparing for the Certification Interviews.   The training is in EN, the registrations are on a “first come first served” basis and there is a special rate for all colleagues who want to register.  Additionaly to the below training offer, here is a free video. Continue reading Training offer: AST – Certification interview →

From Staff matters to Staff Center : Master the new platform like a pro!

Events, Newsletter-2025-10-07, Training, Working conditions Print This Post

*Update 09.10.2025: here is the recording  and the Q&A.  Are you feeling lost in the jungle when you are navigating on our Intranet pages? The new Staff Center homepage serves as your central access point for essential services and information related to IT, Logistics, Buildings, Human Resources (staff matters), and personal or family matters.
Continue reading From Staff matters to Staff Center : Master the new platform like a pro! →

Certification: Free conference

Assistants, Certification, Events, Staff Categories, Training Print This Post

**Update 02.10.2025: check our training offer for AST Certifiction interview (limited spots) *Update 30.09.2025 : Here are the presentation and the recording. The deadline for applications to the  certification process  of this year is Monday 29th  September at 23:59 (Brussels time).  For the Commission there will be a maximum of 50 AST 5 (step 2 and higher) colleagues who will have the chance to be selected to potentially join the AD function group after intensive training and examinations. Continue reading Certification: Free conference →

Free Training – EPSO AD7 Building Management (4 fields)

Administrators, EPSO, Events, Training Print This Post

*update 30.09.2024 : Here is the recording and the presentation Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you a free online training webinar where we will analyse the new selection procedure announced in EPSO/AD/425/25 – Administrators (AD 7) for experts in the Building management area (4 different fields).
 Continue reading Free Training – EPSO AD7 Building Management (4 fields) →

EEAS: Serving in the European Union’s diplomatic service

diversity & inclusion, EEAS, Equality, Newsletter-2025-10-07, Staff Categories, Working conditions Print This Post

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 →

Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker

Events, Health, Newsletter-2025-09-11, Training Print This Post

*Update 30.09.2025: Here is the recording and the presentation.  From stress to success – tell yourself a better story with Andreea HINCU.  Very passionate about the human behaviour, Andreea has always been curious to discover the secrets of how our brain functions. She is a Clinical Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) Hypnotherapist, and she comes to share with us the magic of our subconscious mind, in order to become the successful person you‘ve always wanted to be. Continue reading Lunchtime conference with inspiring guest speaker →

Mobility for contract agents 3a: priority that cannot be ignored 

Contract Agents, Equality, Newsletter-2025-09-11, Staff Categories, Working conditions Print This Post

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

Contract Agents, Equality, Newsletter-2025-09-11, Training Print This Post

*Update 28.10.2025 here’s the response to our note, which makes no mention of the  issue of staff being denied the opportunity to attend an in-person exam.*

*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 →

Multiple-choice tests under scrutiny

EPSO, Newsletter-2025-09-11 Print This Post

The use of multiple-choice tests (multiple choice questions (MCQ) and computer-based tests (CBT)) in internal and EPSO competitions has come under fire due to concerns over their effectiveness and fairness. These tests, which are widely used to assess candidates’ knowledge and skills, have been found to have several pitfalls, including technical issues, translation problems, and, above all, poorly designed questions. Continue reading Multiple-choice tests under scrutiny →