Longer and sustainable careers for contracts agents 

Contract Agents, Equality, Newsletter - 2024-10-28, Promotions, reclassification, Staff Categories, Temporary Agents, Working conditions

*Update 21.11.2024 check out the European Court of Auditors, 2024, Special report 24/2024: EU Civil service–A flexible employment framework, insufficiently used to improve workforce management: it concludes that ‘While the recruitment of temporary staff has proven an effective and flexible way to deal with the shortage of successful candidates on EPSO reserve lists, it carries some risks for business continuity and knowledge management, and as such cannot be a viable long-term solution‘ (Paragraph 100)*

Continue reading Longer and sustainable careers for contracts agents  →

Upcoming changes to the mission guide 

Mobility and Climate, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Working conditions

An update of the currently-in-force version of the work travel (‘mission’) guide (dating from 2017), has been in negotiations between the HR and the trade unions and staff associations (OSPs) since May 2023. The good news is that we are finally approaching its conclusion. At this stage we cannot present you details since they have not been adopted yet, but we can fill you in on what is coming. 

Continue reading Upcoming changes to the mission guide  →

Training Offer: EPSO competition AST3 – Free-text Essay on EU matters

Education, Events, Newsletter - 2024-10-28, Training

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training for the competition EPSO/AST/156/24 Assistants (AST3) in 3 fields (1. Financial management 2. Accounting and treasury 3. Public procurement) with a special discount rate for our members ONLY. All training modules will be in English.

Continue reading Training Offer: EPSO competition AST3 – Free-text Essay on EU matters →

‘Voluntary’ availability during end-of-year break

'voluntold', Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Standby duty, teleworking from anywhere, Working conditions

We are aware of colleagues being asked to ‘voluntarily’[1] declare their availability to ‘ensure business continuity’[2] during the end-of-year stop (23.12.2024-02.01.2025). Given that many staff will already have their laptop with them, whether that’s to use the 10 telework from anywhere (TWA) days, to accommodate the routine building closures at this time of year[3] or to work around cold Offices, it can seem a little predatory to then ask when (not whether) colleagues are available during these rest days for unspecified and as-yet-unmeasured tasks. As though no one would have the intention of filling that time with their own plans!

Continue reading ‘Voluntary’ availability during end-of-year break →

Cold? leave a paper trail!

additional teleworking costs, building closures, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, office temperatures, Open Plan Office, Teleworking, Working conditions

It’s that time of year again and several of you have got in touch to say that your workspace is below the legal minimum temperature of 19°C in Brussels and 20°C in Luxembourg. We raise this point everywhere we can, but so far it is falling on deaf ears. What can we all do about it? We ask you to make some noise. Please contact your proximity team [1] every time you suspect that your work area is below the minimum temperature.

Continue reading Cold? leave a paper trail! →

General pension FAQs

FAQs, Newsletter - 2024-10-28, Newsletter-2025-02-28, Pensions

*Update 07.11.2025, thanks to the almost 130 colleagues who attended o our event! We have updated the FAQs with your questions! Here’s the presentation. For the guest speaker presentation please click here to request it. Also, please check out EULearn pension training.*

*Update 06.11.2025 our intention is for this list to be searchable, hence the repetition of some information. We link also to a recent PMO presentation on pensions.*

Original article: To supplement our frequently asked questions (FAQs) on pension transfers, we add this FAQ for all of the other questions we receive on pensions in general.  Continue reading General pension FAQs →

Transfer of pension rights FAQs

Events, FAQs, Newsletter - 2023-12-13, Newsletter - 2024-01-08, Newsletter - 2024-10-28, Pensions

*Update 07.11.2025, thanks to the almost 130 colleagues who attended o our event! We have updated the FAQs with your questions! Here’s the presentation. For the guest speaker presentation please click here to request it. Also, please check out EULearn pension training.*

*Update 06.11.2025 our intention is for this list to be searchable, hence the repetition of some information. We link also to a recent PMO presentation on pensions.*

Original article: The pension scheme of the European Union institutions (PSEUI) is for all institutions and most agencies. Check out our general pension FAQ. Regardless of whether you work in the Parliament, Council or Commission and whether you are an official, a Temporary Agent or a Contract Agent (‘statutory staff‘) you are probably making contributions to the PSEUI.

The exception would be local agents[*] and those not directly employed by the institutions, such as seconded national experts. Continue reading Transfer of pension rights FAQs →

End of service: IT access

allowances, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Pensions, PMO, Services, Temporary Agents, Working conditions

This topic came out of our October sessions on pensions but the information is applicable to anyone leaving the Commission whether that’s at the end of a contract, to retire or for several other reasons. According to your circumstances, you might need access to the IT systems  to submit medical costs, to get certificates or to manage the EU unemployment allowance[1]. Continue reading End of service: IT access →

Promotion/reclassification what happens now?

CA screening, Newsletter - 2024-11-15, Promotions, reclassification

*Update 12.11.2024:  Promotion and reclassification exercise final lists were published. As below, If your name is not on the final list then the only option remaining for you is to file a formal complaint, if you want to exhaust the possibilities.*

Original article: A long time has passed since June, when the draft lists were published, and there’s still some time to go before the final lists are out. Unfortunately, for anyone outside the corresponding committees, there’s nothing to be done on this topic in the meantime: we are all just waiting for the final lists. The last publication date was  10.11.2023, so we expect the timing to be similar in 2024. Continue reading Promotion/reclassification what happens now? →

Certification 2024/25: and so it begins!

Assistants, Certification, Newsletter - 2024-10-28

*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not  otherwise skewed to reduce participation. Participation in these competitions can be done in parallel to the certification: use all your options!* Continue reading Certification 2024/25: and so it begins! →