**Update 31.05.2024, see below additional dates. *Update 29.05.2024. The sessions listed below sold out quickly. We may organise additional dates, so please check our website regularly. To assist you in preparing for ongoing internal competitions, Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is offering at a special rate, online webinars on oral tests for AD8 & AD10 internal competitions. These webinars will provide you with valuable tips and tricks. Those webinars will be conducted in English. Continue reading Webinars on Oral Tests AD8/AD10 – internal competitions – New dates
Online Conference – Local Agents Salary method – Time to adapt to the reality on the ground
The current salary-revision method for Local Agents, and the idea of “One system fits all”, is not working in many of the EU 140 Delegations all over the world. The idea behind any salary update in the world is to make sure that the organisation’s salaries are competitive, keep employees satisfied, and do what they can to attract and retain the best people. Continue reading Online Conference – Local Agents Salary method – Time to adapt to the reality on the ground
Working a second job? Watch out: you don’t need to pay social security contributions twice!
*Update 05.02.2025 Check out the instructions here on the single social security system.*
Original article: In two recent rulings, the European Court of Justice judged about the payments of social security contributions where you are in active employment for the EU institutions (or retired already) and work in a second job in a Member State. In one phrase: you do not need to pay social security contributions on the income of this second job. Continue reading Working a second job? Watch out: you don’t need to pay social security contributions twice!
Equivalent of 35 colleagues working for free
Each year thousands of colleagues end the year with many unused holidays. The regulations allow the transfer of holidays rights to the next year of up to 12 days. The rest is lost unless a clear justification is provided. ‘Use your holiday or lose it‘ is very much in evidence at the Commission. However, do you know how many holidays in total are lost each year?
Continue reading Equivalent of 35 colleagues working for free
Brussels European Schools – problems and solutions
It is becoming a norm that the Belgian authorities do not provide timely official information in writing about European Schools. Nevertheless, the Secretary General of the European Schools has confirmed it orally: the 5th school[*] in Neder-Over-Heembeek won’t be available in 2028 as originally planned, but in late 2030. Continue reading Brussels European Schools – problems and solutions
Travel allowance – place of origin judgement by Court of Justice (COJ)
On April 18, 2024, four colleagues eventually received the mind-blowing news they had been waiting for a very long time. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), after almost a decade, published its judgment on several appeal cases: ECLI:EU:C:2024:336 (C‑567/22 P) 18 April 2024. This case has been ongoing for almost as long as Generation 2004 has been in existence. Continue reading Travel allowance – place of origin judgement by Court of Justice (COJ)
Another positive PMO story
Welcome to the latest of your positive PMO stories. We highlight again how much it comes down to the goodwill of our PMO colleagues and on their willingness to intervene manually to fill the gaps between different systems and processes. In this edition a PMO colleague ensured a colleague claimed the disability-related reimbursements they were entitled to. To that PMO colleague, thanks so much for doing this: it made an enormous difference! Continue reading Another positive PMO story
18% salary increase and other fever dreams
Let’s start with bursting the bubble immediately: No, we will not have an 18% intermediate salary adjustment in summer. Sorry, but you will have to stop looking for this new villa of yours…
Of course, we are aware of the (quickly removed and no longer accessible) Politico snippet about this alleged adjustment: our inbox pays testimony to it right now. This doesn’t change reality, though. Unfortunately, we now need to give you a bit of background about salary adjustments in the EU institutions. Please bear with us. Continue reading 18% salary increase and other fever dreams
Learning sessions on internal competitions – Oral test
We are organising further training with our partners Yasemos Europeos to help you on competition processes, but in the meantime here is what is on offer under “career related training” in EU LEARN, for candidates who are through to the ‘ORAL TEST’ stage of an EU competition having already passed any required Written Test and/or Presentation.
If you appreciate our work, please consider becoming a member of Generation 2004.
Locals Agents Salary Method – Time to adapt to the reality on the ground!
It is clear that the current salary method, and the idea of “One system fits all” in some 140 Delegations all over the world is not working. Here are some insights and suggestions.
The idea behind any salary update in the world is to make sure that the organisation’s salaries are competitive, keep employees satisfied, and do what they can to attract and retain the best people. This is also the case for the European External Action Service (EEAS). Continue reading Locals Agents Salary Method – Time to adapt to the reality on the ground!
