At the beginning of October, Generation 2004 visited the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Karlsruhe to meet colleagues, listen to their concerns and discuss the challenges they face in their professional lives. Particular attention was given to the situation of Contract Agents, whose career prospects and employment conditions remain a major source of uncertainty, especially at remote JRC locations.
The visit was organised at the initiative of and with the valuable support of Jolanta Otocki, a dedicated Generation 2004 member and our association’s long-standing coordinator at the Karlsruhe site. It provided an important opportunity for direct exchanges with colleagues. It included individual consultations during which we offered advice on career-related matters. Above all, it allowed us to listen to colleagues’ experiences, expectations and concerns.
Three main subjects emerged repeatedly from these discussions: career opportunities, appraisal, and pension rights. While some of these issues affect staff across the European Commission, the situation of colleagues working at geographically remote JRC sites presents particular challenges that deserve greater attention.
Contract agents at remote JRC sites: a particularly difficult situation
The JRC employs a significant number of contract agents across its different locations. Although the available statistics cover all JRC sites, they do not fully reflect the particular difficulties experienced by colleagues working in remote JRC locations such as Karlsruhe.
One of the most pressing concerns relates to the limited duration of contracts for CAs engaged under Article 3b (CA 3b), whose employment in line with Article 88 of CEOS is restricted to a maximum of six years.
For colleagues who have relocated to Karlsruhe, or indeed to any other remote JRC site, this type of contact creates considerable professional and personal uncertainty. Many have moved with their families, established their lives in the local community and made a significant commitment to the institution. Yet, after several years of valuable service, they may find themselves with very limited possibilities to continue their careers on the site or within the Commission on that very contract.
One particularly important concern is the possibility of completing the ten years of service required to qualify for a pension under entitlement. For CA 3b colleagues whose contracts are limited to six years, reaching this threshold may prove extremely difficult.
While colleagues in Brussels may have some opportunities to pursue employment in other EU institutions, agencies or bodies, even there the situation is far from straightforward. At remote JRC locations, however, these opportunities are practically non-existent unless colleagues are prepared to relocate once again.
This creates a significant disadvantage for contract agents at remote sites. They face not only limitations in their employment conditions and career prospects but also additional obstacles to securing long-term pension rights. After years of contributing to the EU pension scheme, colleagues may find themselves unable to complete the service period required for an EU pension entitlement.
The situation becomes even more complicated for families with children, particularly those attending the European School. The prospect of having to relocate again after only a few years can have serious consequences for family stability, children’s education and partners’ employment.
At the same time, the possibilities of employing colleagues under the Temporary Agent (TA) arrangements in JRC appear very limited, even for highly specialised profiles possessing valuable knowledge, experience and expertise that are essential to the JRC’s activities.
Generation 2004 believes that these structural disadvantages must be recognised and addressed. Colleagues who have committed themselves to the institution, often relocating with their families, deserve fairer employment conditions and realistic opportunities for professional continuity.
Career continuity: a recurring concern
One of the questions raised most frequently during our consultations was simple but fundamental: Is there any possibility of staying longer?
Many colleagues expressed frustration at the lack of clear information about their future employment prospects. Some were surprised to discover that their years of service as contract agents, even when accompanied by positive appraisals and recognition of their professional contributions, do not necessarily translate into opportunities for further employment.
It is difficult to understand why the institution should invest in developing highly specialised staff, only to lose their knowledge and experience because of restrictive contractual arrangements.
Generation 2004 hopes that the renegotiation of the seven-year rule, and the concussion of the Large-Scale Review will open up additional opportunities for contract agents, including CA 3b colleagues working at remote JRC sites, to be able to remain in the Commission for longer periods.
Pension rights: uncertainty with serious personal consequences
The combination of short-term employment arrangements and limited opportunities to continue working within the EU institutions places contract agents in a particularly difficult position when planning their future.
Contract agents colleagues are faced with important decisions. Should they transfer their pension rights out of the EU pension scheme once they leave? Should they try to find another position within the EU institutions in the hope of completing the required ten years of service? Or should they accept that their professional future may require yet another relocation and consider at some point even transferring their pension rights in? Would such a transfer be beneficial giving their limited current or expected salary? These questions are far from theoretical. They directly affect the long-term financial security of colleagues and their families.
During our consultations, some colleagues even described considering temporary separation from their families in order to pursue employment opportunities elsewhere and complete the required period of service to earn pension rights. This is not the kind of choice that a world-class public administration should be ‘asking’ its staff to make.
An administration that values its employees should strive to provide predictable employment conditions and fair opportunities to secure pension rights, especially for colleagues who have already devoted several years to serving the European Union.
Career advancement and recognition of responsibilities
Beyond the specific situation of contract agents, our discussions also touched upon wider concerns relating to career development and recognition. Indeed, concerns were also raised not only by contact against but also colleagues in the AST and AST/SC function groups, particularly concerning the promotion and situations in which staff might be expected to perform duties or assume responsibilities that may go beyond those normally associated with their grades or categories.
Supporting colleagues at Karlsruhe and across all JRC sites
Our visit to Karlsruhe confirmed how important it is to maintain direct contact with colleagues, particularly those working away from the Commission’s main administrative centres.
The challenges raised during our meetings are not isolated individual concerns. They point to broader structural problems affecting employment conditions, career opportunities and pension security, with particularly serious consequences for staff at remote JRC locations.
Generation 2004 stands firmly alongside these colleagues. We also believe that the specific circumstances of remote JRC sites must be taken into account when discussing employment policy.
We thank all colleagues in Karlsruhe who took the time to meet us, share their experiences and concerns. Their contributions are essential in helping us identify priorities and strengthen our efforts to defend staff interests.
Our visit coincided with the appointment of the President of the Local Staff Committee in Karlsruhe, elected from the Generation 2004 elected representatives.
