Many colleagues (of all nationalities) who normally receive the June annual travel allowance either did not receive it this year or received a modified sum: the determining factor was place of origin.
The accompanying explanation is as follows : ‘As of 1st January 2021, UK is considered as a third country. Continue reading Brexit and the annual travel allowance: explanation
A quick update and reminder of the context: the assurances given to staff with UK-only nationality that they ‘will continue their career with the Commission’ post Brexit (19.1.2021) do not apply to our colleagues with time-limited contracts. Decisions on their future are being taken using these criteria on a ‘case-by-case assessment’ with results expected now, in March 2021 [1]. Continue reading Brexit update: UK-only TA/CA staff: transparency in application of criteria please
So, the comforting ideals expressed in ex-President Juncker’s post-Brexit-referendum message to staff appear to have been no more than kind words, something we suggested might be the case in our previous article Were British Hats really left at the door?
The CJEU has read and applied the staff regulations with no special consideration [1] for any ‘European spirit’ and agrees with the Commission that this re-evaluation of entitlements has always been clear to staff, an outcome which is more than a little disconcerting, given that ex-President Juncker himself encouraged affected Brussels-based staff to acquire Belgian nationality. Continue reading Brexit: CJEU confirms fears on loss of entitlements
The result of the June 2016 Brexit referendum was a massive shock for all colleagues in the EU institutions, but it was even more of a shock for British colleagues in terms of both the impact on their country and on their careers.
On the very dark day after the referendum one tiny glimmer of light for British colleagues was the message received from ex-President Juncker offering solidarity, saying that upon joining the institution we had left our “national ‘hats’ at the door”. Continue reading Were British Hats really left at the door?
In 1973, when the United Kingdom (UK) was about to join the EU, Yogi Berra, a famous American Baseball star coined the phrase: “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Today, just a few days after the UK has effectively left the Union, the same may be said of Brexit. There is still a plethora of Brexit related topics to be solved in the near future and, perhaps, even in years to come [1]. As we said back in 2016, Brexit can last for years and, if on one side this prediction was confirmed – 3.5 years have passed since the June 2016 referendum – on the other hand it looks like this will continue to be the case. Continue reading Farewell UK, and thanks for all the stress…
There will be no forced resignations (FR) of UK officials who lose their EU citizenship when the UK leaves the EU, or hardly any, according to a decision from the Commission just published. So thanks to the College for that, and no doubt a great relief for those British colleagues fortunate enough to have a permanent contract.
But what about temporary and contract agents? Sadly the Commission only promises “d’effectuer une analyse au cas par cas afin d’autoriser des exceptions dûment justifiées à l’exigence de nationalité prévue par le régime applicable aux autres agents’- and – ‘ à conclure des contrats qui fassent un usage généreux et transparent de cette possibilité de dérogation”. Judging by the ‘generosity’ previously shown towards staff on all matters contractual this is hardly reassuring. Continue reading Brexit news for British staff
The prospects for the EU and the UK reaching an agreement on the financial settlement of Brexit do not look good at the moment. Among many other issues, the issue of the UK contribution to the payment of our pensions is a topic of debate (See copy of Times article– obviously, the article makes no distinction between the extremely generous pensions of staff recruited before the 2004 reform of the staff regulations and the rest of the staff). Continue reading Brexit and Staff Cuts
Generation 2004 regularly alerts the staff with respect to the sustainability of our pension scheme [1]. Commissioner Oettinger seems to agree with us (“He therefore recommended a rigorous [budgetary] approach, particularly as there would be a considerable increase in the cost of EU officials’ pensions in the coming years“, see middle of page 14 in the Minutes of the last meeting of the College in May). Some more reasons to worry according to an article in The Guardian: an “EU diplomat” is quoted as saying “we cannot trade pensions for the MFF” [during the Brexit negotiations]. Let us hope that this diplomat really means what (s)he said. The fact that the Brexit Task Force has so far not bothered informing the staff about what is in preparation with respect to the employees of the institutions, not even those who have British origins, almost a year after the Brexit referendum, is not a good sign. The article in The Guardian emphasises that the EU has promised transparency, as opposed to the UK negotiators who apparently want secrecy. We have some doubts about this transparency pledge by the EU, see top of page 4 of our May newsletter. Continue reading Pensions and Brexit
Join the G2004 discussion!
Some see Brexit as a sign to build the EU – and the EU civil service – stronger and better.
Others see it as yet another opportunity to cut pay and conditions for staff.
One thing is clear, Brexit affects everyone.
Generation 2004 is planning to organise a discussion session on 16 May to take stock of the situation and to identify the most burning issues on which we need to intervene in the coming months. If you would like to be part of the G2004 Brexit discussion then send an email to: REP PERS OSP GENERATION 2004. We will get back to you with details of how to take part. Continue reading BREXIT
According to Wikipedia: “Chess is a two-player strategy board game played on a chessboard, a checkered gameboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. Chess is played by millions of people worldwide, both amateurs and professionals.” Continue reading Let’s play chess (with a little bit of Poker)
