Following the 2024 Belgian federal election, and prolonged negotiations, a new Belgian federal government has finally been in place since 3 February 2025. This economically-right-oriented government has come up with a list of measures in the areas of taxation, employment and unemployment, pension, security, immigration, mobility, climate, defence.
Continue reading Wave of rail strikes in Belgium – wake up call for the Administration
EPSO: When wishful thinking meets reality
What at first glance looks like a logical continuation and supplement to the new EPSO competition model is above all one thing: the admission of failure across the board. No matter how rosy the Director General of HR portrays the situation and the new recruitment model, EPSO is not living up to its claim to deliver a better and ultimately faster service and DG HR is now struggling to ensure at least a minimum level of quality in the new recruitment model. Continue reading EPSO: When wishful thinking meets reality
No departures from this station – why NEO remains utterly inadequate to plan missions by train
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
Fair access: Advocating for function group advancement for Contract Agents
Limited job mobility for Contract Agents. Contract agents (CAs) face significant barriers when seeking job security, never mind career advancement. Generation 2004 believes that this makes the Commission less attractive as an employer and further, that it negatively impacts staff morale. The availability of CA positions is scarce, and in some cases, obtaining a new job can result in a backwards move: a lower classification rather than any step up. Continue reading Fair access: Advocating for function group advancement for Contract Agents
International Women’s Day: haphazard progress?
First of all, happy international women’s day to you all. At Generation 2004 we endeavour to push for equality year round: for us it’s more than a once-a-year performative applause decorated with flowers[1]. But why is a women’s day still needed? Surely there’s little left to do, right? Why is this still even an issue? Well, progress on this topic has not just stalled, it’s going backwards.
Continue reading International Women’s Day: haphazard progress?
Internal Competitions 2025-2027: A Career Breakthrough or a Tactical Diversion?
*Update 26.08.2025 the updated time estimates are available under ‘planning’: please note some will take place SOONER than originally stated: don’t miss your chance!*
Original article: Opportunities Announced, But Do They Truly Deliver? The European Commission has announced its internal competitions planning for 2025-2027, introducing more frequent competitions and cross-category mobility up to AD10. This appears to be a positive development at first glance, but a deeper analysis of eligibility criteria and staff demographics raises serious concerns about how inclusive and effective these competitions will be in addressing long-standing career progression issues. Continue reading Internal Competitions 2025-2027: A Career Breakthrough or a Tactical Diversion?
Unlocking Career progression for Contract Agents: untapped potential of GIPS Article 13
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
Mobility Paradox: Forced to Move or Stuck in Place?
Changes in tasks and/or working environment’ (‘mobility’) are inevitable in any workplace, and in organisations the size of the Commission and the external action service (EEAS, with over 144 Delegations around the world) these are seldom user-friendly processes. As often happens within the institutions, the term ‘mobility’ itself covers a huge range of diverse exercises with different rules regarding the level of obligation, the frequency and to whom those rules apply. Continue reading Mobility Paradox: Forced to Move or Stuck in Place?
Free Webinar: Internal competitions –AD5 – AD6 – AST2 – AST-SC2: Last push and state of play
*Update 14.03.2025: here are the recording and the slides of today’s conference. *Update 10.03.2025: here are the recording and the slides of the conference *Update 07.03.2025: 14 March session, will be about future competitions, not the current ones. Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you, additonnally to our previous offer for which you can find the recording and the slides here, free Webinars for Internal competitions – 1) Last push before the internal competition exams, 2) lessons learned from previous competitions & do’s and dont’s. Continue reading Free Webinar: Internal competitions –AD5 – AD6 – AST2 – AST-SC2: Last push and state of play
Additional Training Offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Translators
Now that the 2 work groups for AD5 Translators competitions already scheduled are fully booked, we are still receiving great training demand for the EPSO/AD/414-421/24 AD5 Translators competition in 8 languages. With only 1 week ahead until the first exam, we decided with our training consultant Yasemos to provide self-study exam packages for practising the different tests for those who couldnot join the work groups. Continue reading Additional Training Offer : EPSO competitions AD5 Translators
