In a previous issue of our newsletter, we discussed the feasibility of travelling from Brussels to main cities in the EU by train and concluded that Brussels was quite central within the EU railway network and will remain so even after Brexit moves the centre of gravity of the EU eastward. An interesting article was recently published in the Belgian press which confirms our analysis and gives indications with regard to the CO2 emissions associated with different transport modes. Despite underestimating the CO2 emissions of air travel (it looks like the figures quoted in the article are based on the assumption that airplanes fly with 100% occupancy rates, which is not always the case), the article confirms that travelling by train is by far the most efficient transport mode.
Staff representation reform – state of (no) play…
After several months of complete silence, DG HR has finally unveiled its revised proposal for a reform of Staff Representation. The document, which was circulated shortly before Christmas and formally presented on January 17, before being discussed with unions, foresees only one single staff committee, located in Brussels composed of members directly and simultaneously elected in all Commission sites and delegations. Continue reading Staff representation reform – state of (no) play…
DG RTD reorganization presented at the LSC Brussels
DG RTD Reorganisation and delegation of projects to Agencies discussed at the Local Staff Committee
There is a reorganisation ongoing in DG RTD. Its Director General, Mr Jean-Eric Paquet, is determined to make it more flexible, agile and efficient, closer to the Executive Agencies and ready for the European Innovation Council, as explained to members of the Local Staff Committee on 5th February. Continue reading DG RTD reorganization presented at the LSC Brussels
JSIS – Reimbursment of the pre-natal test
If you are expecting a baby and are insured under the Commission JSIS scheme, you are most likely familiar with the Intracomm page, which provides details on what the scheme reimburses and at which rate. Continue reading JSIS – Reimbursment of the pre-natal test
Sick Leave before or after annual leave
Imagine you are off for a month over summer… You are having the holiday of a lifetime but it is coming to an end. You really cannot face going back to the office just yet, but you have no more annual leave. Isn’t it tempting to change your flight and call in sick for a couple of days? DG HR thinks you might be tempted and created a specific rule requiring a medical certificate for any sick leave before or after annual leave. Continue reading Sick Leave before or after annual leave
Betrayal and humiliation or the advantage of having friends in high places
It is a truth universally acknowledged that cabinet colleagues at the end of the Commission term must be in want of a parachute. Therefore, despite some promises made 5 years ago after the last paratrooper airborne insertion exercise that there would be future limits on “parachutage”, it seems nothing has really changed. Continue reading Betrayal and humiliation or the advantage of having friends in high places
Self-Assessment conference in Luxembourg
Are the assessment and promotion exercises really independent from each other?
We say this is not entirely true!
Your report may indeed be only one of the elements taken into account when your DG prepares the draft promotion list… but the language of your appraisal will decide the fate of your appeal if you launch one for not being proposed.
Therefore your self-assessment and the evaluation by the reporting officer must very positively mirror your performance.
Self-Assessment conference in Brussels
Are the Assessment and promotion exercises really independent from each other?
We say this is not entirely true!
Your report may indeed be only one of the elements taken into account when your DG prepares the draft promotion list… but the language of your appraisal will decide the fate of your appeal if you launch one for not being proposed.
Therefore your self-assessment and the evaluation by the reporting officer must very positively mirror your performance.
Brussels Local Staff Committee Elections
(click on graph to enlarge)
As the majority of you probably noticed the Election of the new Local Staff Committee of Brussels (LSC BXL) took place at the end of October with a turn-out of 66% (14 391 votes casted out of 21 586 eligible voters). Generation 2004 scored some 30.23% of list votes and 23.76% of the preferential votes, which translates into 7 seats out of 27 in the LSC Brussels and continuous climb on the representative charts (line in green). Continue reading Brussels Local Staff Committee Elections
Elections of the Outside Union Local Staff Committee
For the first time in the short existence of Generation 2004 the colleagues based in the EC delegations outside the EU have been able to choose Generation 2004 candidates on their ballot. Traditionally, the delegations have been a stronghold of the established unions. Thus, many (not us!) were surprised with Generation 2004’s good result of about 15% of the votes. This result, because of the electoral system which is different from the one in Brussels and most probably needs to be updated, translates only into 1 seat out of 14 in the Staff Committee of the delegations. Nevertheless, now that we are in the “stronghold”, we are going to do our best to reform it, as we have done in Brussels for the past 3 years.
Generation 2004 would like to thank to all who voted for us and invites the others to engage with us to work in favour of the delegations’ staff.
