R&D café on Multiannual Financial Framework: 13/03/2013

We are pleased to confirm the previously announced R&D Café on the topic of the recently agreed MFF. As you will be aware, the agreed budget includes a further reduction to the administrative heading beyond that already proposed by the Commission. This will naturally reflect on the future administrative spending and the proposed "Reform" of the Staff Regulations.
On 7th March the "Groupe technique Rémuneration" (GTR) will meet and a discussion of the method for salary adaptation and other aspects of the reform are on the agenda. R&D will be present and we have decided it would be most useful to hold the R&D Café after this meeting so we can present the latest possible scenarios and listen to your views.
The R&D café will therefore take place on 13/03 at 13:00 in Room 3 (bld. 36). Please come along and share in the debate over a coffee!

Transfert of pension rights IN - Art. 90 templates

Templates to appeal against the retro-active application of the new rules applicable for transfers of pension adopted on 3rd March 2011 are now available.

A first case has been brought before the Court of Justice (Verile Case) and a series of others are suspended while awaiting the verdict which will be handed down in this "test" case.

The Verile case will be heard on 19th March.

Our lawyer Sébastien Orlandi will keep you up to date with progress, in an information session which will be held on 27thFebruary at 13.00 in the Central Staff Committee (CCP) Meeting Room. 

R&D cafè: Multiannual Financial Framework

During the recently concluded European summit (7/8 February 2013) the Council approved the Multiannual Financial Framework programme 2014-2020; the conclusions can be found at this link. Last Monday 11/2 the vice-president of the European Commission Mr Šefčovič discussed the MFF with the trade unions which gave us the possibility to understand better the Commission view of the programme. As regards Heading V (see pages 39/40 of the MFF conclusions) on the administrative expenditures (salaries, European Schools, etc.), a cut of €2,5 billion has been foreseen (€1 billion more than the Commission’s initial proposal) together with the confirmation of the already announced staff cut of 5% for the period 2013-2017. Furthermore, it has been proposed that no salary adaptation will be applied for the next 2 years, while it is not clear yet what it will happen to the solidarity levy. The European Parliament will now evaluate the Council proposal: it's up to the MEPs to decide whether to accept or reject it, but no amendments are possible.
Negotiations will be carried out in the coming weeks: if you want to know more or express your views please come to the R&D Cafè that we are going to organise by the end of February. Stay tuned!

R&D café: EPSO call Contract Agents FGIV on 5/2/13

Following the publication of the call for expression of interest for contract agents FGIV (replacement of GH contracts) we have received many enquiries regarding the application procedure and eligibility. We already held an R&D café in December on this topic and we think it would very useful to follow this up with another. The intention is to focus on specific practical questions that can help potential candidates decide if it is worthwhile applying, and in order to make the best application.
Considering the deadline for applications is very soon (1st March 2013), we have decided to hold this R&D café on 5th February (13:00, Amphitheatre bldg. 36). To help us to be more effective we kindly ask that you communicate to us any questions or comments you have before the meeting, by replying to this message.

EPSO Call for Contract Agents FGIV

The call for expression of interest for contract agents FGIV (replacing Grantholder Category 30) has finally been launched (see EPSO webpage).
Registrations have to be validated by 12:00 - 1st March 2013 and the final test results will be available in June/July 2013, depending on the number of applications.

We are very happy that, after years of efforts, this call has finally been opened. We have provided a major contribution to push it forward: see for instance our letter to our DG Ristori signed by the Ispra/Seville Trade Union majority on 9th August 2012 and our presentation to GH colleagues given last 5th December on this subject.

Please spread the information among those (collaborators, Universities etc.) you think may be interested in applying: from our part we’ll continue to commit ourselves for the reinforcement of JRC scientific activities.

Don't forget that our secretariat is always open if you want to pass by and ask for advice.

R&D training for EPSO Open Competitions

R&D is happy to organise a training course for the preparation of EPSO AST 3 Open Competitions (Research + administrative sectors). The course will be given in English by our trainer Anne Draime. The schedule is as follows:

Application form (Talent screener included) & Numerical Reasoning: Wednesday 16/01 from 08.45 to 13.00 (Amphitheatre - bdg.36)

Verbal + Abstract Reasoning & Situational Judgement: Thursday 17/01 from 13.00 to 18.00 (Amphitheatre - bdg.36)

Accuracy and Precision + Prioritising and Organising: Friday 18/01 from 9.00 to 12.00 (Room 3 - bdg.36)

If you are interested in participating please fill in the form at this page.

R&D members can join the course free of charge and have priority for registration. Non members are welcome to participate on payment of a €50 fee.

Grantholders to CA scheme: latest news


Following a consultation meeting today 6/12/12 with the administration, there are some good and some bad news. Firstly, we have made some improvements to the earlier text and the administration has clearly stated its desire to move forward with the scheme. However, due to the outcome of a recent court case, EPSO will now be required to publish all future calls in all the official languages of the EU. Unfortunately, the translation necessary will lead to a delay (of uncertain length) in publication of the call, and it will definitely not be done by the end of 2012 as initially planned.