According to the data provided by DG HR in the latest information meeting on 11 June 2021 and on intranet updates: the EU Digital Covid Certificate will become available with legal effects in all EU Member States as of 1 July 2021, although some might start issuing it earlier: for example, Luxembourg started issuing it on 14 June, Belgium on 16 June [1] and Italy from the end of June. Some travel rules will also change as of 1 July 2021 (but no exemption from PCR tests). There’s an online information session from the medical services together with DG SANTE on Tuesday 22 June lunchtime via EULearn. Continue reading COVID-19: The latest on the digital certificate, vaccination and more
Luxembourg members conference Friday 25 June
We are glad to invite you to the next Generation 2004 meeting dedicated to our members in Luxembourg. We would like to update you on recent developments and issues concerning our working environment, with a specific focus on Luxembourg issues. Continue reading Luxembourg members conference Friday 25 June
Brick by brick breaking bad behaviours: lunchtime coaching
*Friday, 9 July, 12.15-13.45: Lunchtime workshop*
How many times have you told yourself: from Monday I will stop eating sweets! From next month I will stop smoking! From tomorrow I will start reading every day!
Yes I know! We all have been there! We all wanted to change a bad habit and we all failed at a certain moment. A habit is a learned repeated behaviour and it can be related to goals, locations, circumstances or even people. Continue reading Brick by brick breaking bad behaviours: lunchtime coaching
CBT training offer: July 2021
*Deadline to register is 12.00 (midday) Friday 2 July 2021*
Generation 2004 is organising more computer-based multiple-choice test (CBT) training for July (4 x 2 hour sessions) to provide you with techniques to pass the Contract Agents selection tool (CAST) or the CBT phase of any European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) competition.
CAST exams are scheduled for 30 June-6 July (and probably September). It is also likely EPSO will launch more competitions in autumn (check ongoing selection procedures for CBT dates).
The final objective of this training is to guarantee that candidates master the CBT methodology. The training sessions will go through the theory of the exercises and share a practical methodology and exercises for practice at home, with the possibility of addressing doubts in the following session. Continue reading CBT training offer: July 2021
Stop the AST/SC exploitation NOW
*Update 13.10.2025 Point 6 below, internal competitions: there are to be 3 cross-function-group internal competitions which include AST/SCs, we look forward to seeing the eligibility criteria.*
*Update 23.09.2025: It’s now official: 50 AST/SCs are to have the (mis)fortune of doing an AST post without the corresponding AST promotion speed or career potential. Check the Draft 2026 Commission budget: ’50 posts in the function group AST may be occupied by officials and temporary staff in the AST/SC function group to reflect the gradual phase-in of the AST/SC function group.’ (p. 955, footnote 1). While the Commission as a whole is set to lose 24 posts, the AST function group is to lose 121 (leaving 4398 permanent staff). No other function group is to decrease in size.* Continue reading Stop the AST/SC exploitation NOW
Teleworking from abroad: YES, WE CAN!
*Update 25.09.2025 1: TWA can now be combined with parental leave. 2: Details of the outcome of the court case (T-39/21) related to the removal of the expatriation allowance for some staff in the Parliament while working from outside the place of employment during Covid is added as footnote [**].*
Original article: Who said teleworking from outside the place of employment (TWA) [1] cannot be reconciled with the interest of the service and our duty to serve the public? Continue reading Teleworking from abroad: YES, WE CAN!
The old guards maintaining the status quo in Karlsruhe and Geel
*Here are the 2021 Karlsruhe election results.* Original article: The infinite depths of (Commission) space. The final frontier: the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Its mission: to boldly go where noone (Commission official) has gone before: research, innovation, digitalisation, green deal … Really? Also at the JRC Karlsruhe and Geel?
What happened there? Continue reading The old guards maintaining the status quo in Karlsruhe and Geel
On career unionism and the fallacy of irreplaceability (long read)
To start with, lets clear the air and get this out in the open: the discussions between the administration and the staff (‘social dialogue (SD)’) via the elected representatives (‘staff representation (SR)’) and the trade unions and professional staff associations (OSPs), are necessary. As DG Human Resources and Security (DG HR) puts it on the Staff Matters website, the social dialogue: Continue reading On career unionism and the fallacy of irreplaceability (long read)
CBT training offer: starting 7 June 2021
*New dates available from 5 July*
Generation 2004 is organising more computer-based multiple-choice test (CBT) training starting Monday 7 June (4 x 2 hour sessions) to provide you with techniques to pass the Contract Agents selection tool (CAST) or the CBT phase of any European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) competition.
The next CBT for a competition is scheduled for Agriculture AD6 in June (no dates yet) and the next competition announced (open 20 May for applications) and CAST exams are scheduled for the 2-8 June and 30 June-6 July (and probably September). It is also likely EPSO will launch more competitions in autumn.
The final objective of this training is to guarantee that candidates master the CBT methodology. The training sessions will go through the theory of the exercises and share a practical methodology and exercises for practice at home, with the possibility of addressing doubts in the following session. Continue reading CBT training offer: starting 7 June 2021
‘Wild West of Teleworking’ Photography Contest: winners!
Thanks to all of you who submitted photos of your home-office/kitchen-table/cupboard-under-the-stairs/garden IT setup and your increased bills and accommodation costs. We always appreciate your interaction and comments and you can still send us your teleworking photos and evidence of costs incurred: let us know where and how you are working! Continue reading ‘Wild West of Teleworking’ Photography Contest: winners!
