Different practices among the Commission
Generation 2004 has recently been contacted by colleagues regarding their concerns over differing practices across Commission services concerning invitations to CAST selection procedures.
Spending in Luxembourg is not taken into account
Spending behaviour patterns for EU staff in Belgium is used for calculating the ‘JBLI COEFFICIENT ‘, while 20% of staff lives in Luxembourg.
The 2026 Family Budget Survey, one of the important components for calculating the correction coefficients, was launched on the 11th of March for staff living in Belgium. Unfortunately, spending habits of staff in Luxembourg, who also have the 100% coefficient (=Brussels), is not considered for this exercise, as the bilateral parities are only calculated with reference to Brussels (Article 1(1) of Annex XI to the staff regulations).
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Staff obliged to use private mobile phones to use Ares
In line with the current trends of invading staff private phones, several colleagues have raised our attention to the fact that Ares requires the use of private devices for verification.
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Coming soon: Commission Decision will allow staff to be contacted during disconnection period in their private mobile phones
As explained in our previous articles, the Commission is preparing a Decision that requires all staff to provide their private mobile to be contacted during their rest time.
Advancement Possibilities for Contract Agents: Optimistic on Paper, Disappointing in Practice
Advancement opportunities for Contract Agents (CAs) are often perceived as limited. Various mechanisms for career progression exist, but they differ considerably in terms of accessibility. Some are automatic, some require significant effort, some depend on available resources, and others are subject to restrictions that make them far less accessible in practice than they appear on paper.
Generation 2004 challenges EPSO over delay in publication of AST/157/25 reserve list
Generation 2004 has formally contacted EPSO regarding the postponement of the reserve list publication for competition EPSO/AST/157/25 – Digital Communication.
Candidates recently discovered that the indicative publication date has been moved from July 2026 to October 2026. At the time of writing, no explanation has been communicated to candidates regarding the reasons for this delay.
Behind the scenes: is the victim of harassment effectively protected?
On 12 December 2023, the Commission adopted a new policy on anti-harassment. It repealed the outdated 2006 Commission’s anti-harassment decision (Decision C(2006) 1624/3). Respect, dignity and courtesy are key principles to identify and address harassment and other inappropriate behaviours in the workplace. An Action Plan and a guide for respectful working environment are also part of the strategy to ensure respect at work.
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Generation 2004 Breakfast Meeting Focuses on Key Workplace Issues
On 15 June, Generation 2004 hosted a breakfast meeting for its members and colleagues interested in learning more about the organisation and its activities. The event provided an opportunity to exchange views, strengthen professional networks, and discuss key issues currently affecting staff in the European institutions.
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Training offer: Internal Competitions 2026 – Study Group on MCQ + Written Test (EN)
*Update 29.06.2026: all places in this study group have been filled. Registration is therefore closed and register link and the corresponding discount codes are no longer available.*
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to invite you to an online study group with follow-up sessions focused on the internal competition tests, including the MCQ test on EU policies and institutions and the Written Test, with a special discount rate for our members.
The training is suitable for candidates preparing for both the AD7 COM/AD/107/2026 and AD5 COM/AD/108/2026 competitions. The programme is delivered in English, and all sessions will be recorded.
Please note that registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, as the number of places is limited.
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Training offer: AD5 internal competition – Study group for cognitive reasoning
*Update 24.06.2026: all places in this study group have been filled. Registration is therefore closed and register links and the corresponding discount codes are no longer available.*
Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training with a Study group for cognitive reasoning (numerical, deductive and inductive) test for the COM AD5 Internal competition. There is a special discount rate for our members ONLY and registrations are made on “first come first served basis”.
Continue reading Training offer: AD5 internal competition – Study group for cognitive reasoning
