Call for Candidates: Building on Our Success – Local Staff Committee Elections in Petten

Local elections, Local Staff Committee, Newsletter-2026-01-13, Petten Print This Post

*Update: elections will be held from 19 March, at 11:30, until 26 march, at 12:30. Deadline for submission of candidates: 2 march. Please get in touch with us by Friday 28 February, lunchtime*

At the end of last year, Generation 2004 once again confirmed its strong position in the Local Staff Committee elections in Luxembourg, retaining the title of the biggest single staff organisation in the European Commission. This result reflects the trust colleagues place in our work and the commitment of our candidates and members. 

We are now launching a call for candidates for the upcoming Local Staff Committee elections at the European Commission Petten site, starting, where the election process is expected to move very quickly.   Continue reading Call for Candidates: Building on Our Success – Local Staff Committee Elections in Petten →

Disposable mobile phones: a new trend at the Commission?

Newsletter-2026-01-13 Print This Post

Each year, hundreds, if not thousands,  of colleagues are effectively forced to replace their mobile phones in order to retain access to a work profile and Commission applications while on the move. This has probably already happened to many of you! 

Although using your personal device for work is not an official requirement – and should not be, as we have repeatedly highlighted in previous notes to the Administration, staff are increasingly expected to be always connected: to reply to emails rapidly, to remain reachable outside normal working hours, to participate in last-minute online meetings, and so on.  

Continue reading Disposable mobile phones: a new trend at the Commission? →

Is The New Decision on Geographical balance going to work?

Administrators, diversity & inclusion, Newsletter-2025-12-19 Print This Post

On 6 November 2025 the Commission adopted a decision aimed at enhancing the geographical diversity among its staff. Stephen QUEST, Director-General of DG HR, hailed it as an introduction of measures designed to attract individuals from underrepresented countries to join the Commission.  

 

 

Continue reading Is The New Decision on Geographical balance going to work? →

Attractiveness à la Luxembourgeoise: Or How “Stay 4 Years” Became the New HR Strategy

Luxembourg, Professional mobility, Uncategorized Print This Post

For years, we’ve been told that Luxembourg suffers from an “attractiveness problem.” Housing is expensive, life is expensive, childcare is expensive and yet, instead of tackling those issues, some now suggest that the solution is… to hold people in Luxembourg for 3–4 years (Point 6 c) to f) of the notice of the competition). This mobility-limiting clause, appearing in some Luxembourg-based competitions, is being used unlike in other sites. 

Continue reading Attractiveness à la Luxembourgeoise: Or How “Stay 4 Years” Became the New HR Strategy →

Oops… We Did It Again! Generation 2004 Keeps the Lead in Luxembourg

Local Staff Committee, Luxembourg, Newsletter-2025-12-19 Print This Post

Generation 2004 sincerely thanks all colleagues in Luxembourg who placed their trust in us during the 2025 Local Staff Committee elections. Thanks to your support, we achieved an 8.4% increase in our share of the vote compared to the previous elections, reaching 28.57% of all valid ballots and  securing six elected pairs, who will represent Luxembourg staff interests in all matters affecting them at both the Local Staff Committee and the Central Staff Committee levels. 

Continue reading Oops… We Did It Again! Generation 2004 Keeps the Lead in Luxembourg →

Unjust Dismissals in EU Delegations: A Dangerous Start to Delegations “Modernisation”

Local Agents, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Outside the Union Print This Post

Staff representation organisations have jointly raised serious concerns regarding the modernisation of the EU Delegation network and, more specifically, the Commission’s proposal to dismiss up to 29 Local Agents (LAs) in the Western Balkans.  In the Delegations concerned, this represents a very significant share of Local Agents in core functions such as Finance, Contracts and Audit, in several cases approaching half of the workforce in those sections.  

Continue reading Unjust Dismissals in EU Delegations: A Dangerous Start to Delegations “Modernisation” →

Training Offer: EPSO AD7 Data experts (in LUX) – Study group for reasoning, MCQ and written tests

Administrators, EPSO, Events, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Training Print This Post

Generation 2004, in collaboration with Yasemos Europeos, is happy to offer you online training with Study group for reasoning, MCQ and written tests for the AD7 Data experts 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: EPSO AD7 Data experts (in LUX) – Study group for reasoning, MCQ and written tests →

High Expectations, Little Progress – What the October Meeting Revealed about the Future of Executive Agencies

Agencies, Newsletter-2025-12-19 Print This Post

On 6 October 2025 DG HR met colleagues from executive agencies. The meeting was intended as an opportunity for the administration to listen to employees’ concerns and clarify the future of executive agencies. However, the overall tone of the discussion including its outcome, was marked by frustration and disappointment among participants, who felt that few concrete commitments were presented. Uncertainty within executive agencies is not a new phenomenon, and it should not come as a surprise that the administration has offered no concrete answers. 

Continue reading High Expectations, Little Progress – What the October Meeting Revealed about the Future of Executive Agencies →

Conference: 2026 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises

Events, Newsletter-2025-12-19, Promotions, reclassification Print This Post

We publish this early enough for you to make a start on listing your achievements, training and highlights throughout 2025 to avoid you having to hit the ground running in January. This conference explains the evaluation process and offers tips. Join us Thursday, 8 January 2026, 12:30. We cover how to prepare your self-assessment and your one-on-one interview with your line manager (‘reporting officer’) [1] this is applicable both to the promotion (officials) and reclassification (Contract Agents, except 3b)[2]. Continue reading Conference: 2026 appraisal and promotion/reclassification exercises →

HR listens and acts accordingly: Discriminations in Repayment of Exceptional Education Costs to be Removed

Education, Newsletter-2025-12-19 Print This Post

When we informed you about the possibility to request financial support for your children education costs (primary and secondary levels), we noticed a weird restriction in eligibility conditions: this financial support was not open to children of colleagues in EU Delegations or in Agencies. However, it was available to colleagues in all institutions and to a large and varied pool of current and former staff. 

We asked informally HR for what seemed to be an unjustified discrimination, particularly considering that many colleagues in agencies are contractual agents in the lower salary scales.

Continue reading HR listens and acts accordingly: Discriminations in Repayment of Exceptional Education Costs to be Removed →