Working for us

Careers

The working and contractual conditions of EASA staff are based on the Staff Regulations (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities (CEOS). The Agency has no permanent officials, but is staffed mainly by Temporary Agents and Contract Agents recruited through open selection procedures. EASA may also recruit Seconded National Experts.

Temporary Agents

In general, Agency contracts for Temporary Agents have a duration of five years, with the possibility of renewal for an indefinite period.

Temporary Agent posts are classified according to the nature and importance of the duties required in:

  • Administrators' function group (AD): comprises twelve grades from AD 5 to AD 16 corresponding to technical, administrative, advisory, linguistic and scientific duties
  • Assistants' function group (AST): comprises eleven grades from AST 1 to AST 11 corresponding to executive, technical and clerical duties

Temporary Agents are required to serve a probationary period of six months. (1)

Contract Agents

The duration of contracts for Contract Agents varies according to the needs of the Agency (from three months up to 3 years). At the Agency, most Contract Agents have a contract duration between 1 and 3 years. The contract can be renewed for a second fixed-term period, and upon its second renewal converted into a contract of indefinite duration. (2)

Contract Agent posts are classified in four function groups corresponding to the duties and responsibilities involved:

  • Function group IV: comprises six grades corresponding to administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical tasks
  • Function group III: comprises five grades corresponding to executive tasks, drafting, accountancy and other equivalent technical tasks
  • Function group II: comprises four grades corresponding to clerical and secretarial tasks, office management and other equivalent tasks
  • Function group I: comprises three grades corresponding to manual and administrative support service tasks

Contract Agents whose contract is concluded for a duration of at least one year are required to serve the following probationary periods:

  • 6 months if employed in function group I
  • 9 months if employed in function group II-IV

If the duration of the contract is less than twelve months, Contract Agents may be exempted from the requirement to serve a probationary period.

Seconded National Experts

The conditions for Seconded National Experts are described in the rules of the Secondment of National Experts to the Commission, which apply mutatis mutandis to secondments at the Agency. (3)

Secondment is not equivalent to Agency employment, nor does it lead to employment by the Agency. Seconded National Experts shall remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment. They will remain, throughout the period of secondment, subject to the social security legislation applicable to their employer, which will assume responsibility for permissible expenses incurred abroad. Seconded National Experts are entitled to a daily subsistence allowance, paid by the Agency, during the period of secondment.

The duration of a secondment to the Agency is limited to a maximum of four years. The place of secondment is Cologne.

Training and development

In order to develop employees' professional skills and performance continually and to better contribute to the EASA mission, the Agency provides a variety of training activities, of both a general and technical nature (e.g. language, management, finance and budget, IT and technical expert training etc.).

Temporary and Contract Agents at EASA are subject to an annual performance appraisal. At the start of the reporting period, objectives are agreed between the line manager and the jobholder, which relate to what the individual jobholder should achieve. The purpose of the appraisal system is to assess the work that has been carried out over a certain period against the related annual individual objectives that were established for the jobholder. The appraisal encourages jobholders to develop their potential and consider their career prospects. Linked to the performance appraisal is a merit-based promotion policy applied on an annual basis.

Allowances and benefits

In addition to the basic salary, Agents may receive various allowances depending on their personal circumstances. The final salary is calculated by adding the relevant allowances and by deducting social security contributions and other taxes.

Each grade is broken up into several seniority steps with corresponding salary increases. Basic salaries are adjusted annually in line with inflation and purchasing power in the EU countries. To reflect the higher or lower cost of living in Cologne compared with Brussels, the basic salary is weighted by applying a coefficient based on the cost of living in Cologne (currently 94,80 compared with Brussels 100). Detailed salary tables for Temporary and Contract Agents can be consulted here.

The main benefits, deductions and contributions are summarised below. This information is indicative as entitlements are determined upon recruitment, based on proofs provided.

Expatriation and foreign residence allowance

  • Expatriation allowance

    The expatriation allowance is equal to 16% of the total of the basic salary plus household allowance and dependent child allowance to which the Agent may be entitled. The expatriation allowance shall be not less than 505,39 € per month (4)

  • Foreign residence allowance

    The foreign-residence allowance is equal to one quarter of the expatriation allowance (5)

Family allowances

  • Household allowance

    Basic amount of 170,52 € plus 2% of basic salary (value as of 01.07.2010) (6)

  • Dependant child allowance

    Per month and per dependent child: 372,61 € (value as of 01.07.2010) (7)

  • Education allowances
    • Pre-school allowance 91,02 € per month and per child (value as of 01.07.2010)
    • Education allowance up to a maximum of 252,81 € (value on 01.07.2010) per month for each dependent child, which can be doubled in some cases (8)
    • Direct payment of school fees in accordance with service contracts signed between EASA and certain international schools in the Cologne area

  • Birth grant

    • The birth grant is 198, 31 € per child in case of birth or adoption of a child (9)

Allowances when taking up duties

  • Installation allowance

    Between one third of basic salary and one full basic salary depending on contract duration. (10)

  • Daily subsistence allowance

    Fixed amounts of 39,17 € per day or 31,58 € per day depending on whether the Agent is entitled to the household allowance or not.

    For Agents not receiving the household allowance the daily subsistence allowance is granted up to 120 days.

    For Agents receiving the household allowance, the daily subsistence allowance is granted for 180 days. As a probationer the daily subsistence allowance is granted for the period of probation plus one month. (11)

  • Removal and travel expenses

    Agents with contract duration of at least twelve months are entitled to reimbursement of removal expenses up to the amount of a quotation approved in advance. (12) On taking up duties, Agents are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses from the place of recruitment to the place of employment. (13)

    Similar allowances such as resettlement allowance may be granted upon end of service.

Other benefits

EASA employees benefit from a range of other benefits, such as:

  • Special ID card & special car license plates, issued by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Reduced fares with public transport in the wider Cologne/Bonn area ("Job Ticket")
  • Relocation services (Assistance in finding housing and accommodation)

Deductions

Salaries and allowances paid by EASA are exempt from any national taxation in all EU Member States, but subject to a European tax (deducted at source) for the benefit of the European Communities.

Social security contributions (% of basic salary)

Pension (11,60%)

Health insurance (1,70%)

Accident cover (0,10%)

Unemployment insurance (0,81%)

Income tax

Tax levied progressively at a rate of between 8% and 45% of the taxable portion of the salary.

Special levy (5,50%) calculated on the part of the remuneration exceeding the minimum remuneration.

Sickness and accident insurance, Health

EASA staff members are covered, 24/7 and worldwide, by the EU Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS). A staff member's family may also be covered under this insurance scheme. The current health insurance and accident cover rates are indicated here.

The Agency's medical centre provides services in preventive and occupational medicine. Before commencement of duties, new staff members are required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination. In addition, EASA staff members are invited to undergo voluntarily an annual preventive medical check-up.

Pension

Throughout the period of service, Agents are members of the EU pension scheme. The pension is granted after completing a minimum of ten years' service and reaching the pensionable age of 63 years. The current monthly pension contribution is indicated here. Pension rights acquired in one or more national schemes before starting to work at EASA may be transferred into the EU pension system.

Leave and Absences

A standard working week at EASA is 37,5 hours. EASA staff members are entitled to annual leave of 24 working days plus EASA holidays (17-19 days p.a.), which to a large extent correspond to German national holidays. On top of this entitlement, additional leave days are granted for age, grade and distance from the place of origin (e.g. place where parents live, place where property is possessed, place where civic rights are exercised). Special leave is granted for certain circumstances such as marriage, birth or adoption of a child, death of a close relative etc.

Work-life balance

The Agency enables staff members to reconcile family and professional life by offering flexible work arrangements, such as part-time work and parental leave. Mothers are entitled to 20 weeks maternity leave and fathers to 10 days paternity leave on the normal salary, while a minimum of 6 months parental leave per child is available on a basic monthly allowance.

EASA has reserved a limited number of child-care places in a local, public "European Kindergarten" and pays school fees directly by means of service contracts signed with certain international schools in the Cologne region.

Various leisure, sport and cultural activities are open to EASA's staff members and their families, including a "Stammtisch and EASA's spouses get together", sports, music and a flying club.

Salary overview

Basic salary table for Temporary Agents

1/07/10 Echelon/Step
Grade 1 2 3 4 5
16 16.919,04 17.630,00 18.370,84 18.370,84 18.370,84
15 14.953,61 15.581,98 16.236,75 16.688,49 16.919,04
14 13.216,49 13.771,87 14.350,58 14.749,83 14.953,61
13 11.681,17 12.172,03 12.683,51 13.036,39 13.216,49
12 10.324,20 10.758,04 11.210,11 11.521,99 11.681,17
11 9.124,87 9.508,31 9.907,86 10.183,52 10.324,20
10 8.064,86 8.403,76 8.756,90 9.000,53 9.124,87
9 7.127,99 7.427,52 7.739,63 7.954,96 8.064,86
8 6.299,95 6.564,69 6.840,54 7.030,86 7.127,99
7 5.568,11 5.802,09 6.045,90 6.214,10 6.299,95
6 4.921,28 5.128,07 5.343,56 5.492,23 5.568,11
5 4.349,59 4.532,36 4.722,82 4.854,21 4.921,28
4 3.844,31 4.005,85 4.174,18 4.290,31 4.349,59
3 3.397,73 3.540,50 3.689,28 3.791,92 3.844,31
2 3.003,02 3.129,21 3.260,71 3.351,42 3.397,73
1 2.654,17 2.765,70 2.881,92 2.962,10 3.003,02

Basic salary table for Contract agents

  1/07/10 Echelon/Step
Groupe Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
IV 18 5.832,42 5.953,71 6.077,52 6.203,91 6.332,92 6.464,62 6.599,06
  17 5.154,85 5.262,04 5.371,47 5.483,18 5.597,20 5.713,60 5.832,42
  16 4.555,99 4.650,73 4.747,45 4.846,17 4.946,95 5.049,83 5.154,85
  15 4.026,70 4.110,44 4.195,92 4.283,18 4.372,25 4.463,17 4.555,99
  14 3.558,90 3.632,91 3.708,46 3.785,58 3.864,31 3.944,67 4.026,70
  13 3.145,45 3.210,86 3.277,63 3.345,80 3.415,37 3.486,40 3.558,90
III 12 4.026,63 4.110,36 4.195,84 4.283,09 4.372,15 4.463,07 4.555,88
  11 3.558,86 3.632,87 3.708,41 3.785,53 3.864,25 3.944,60 4.026,63
  10 3.145,43 3.210,84 3.277,61 3.345,77 3.415,34 3.486,36 3.558,86
  9 2.780,03 2.837,84 2.896,86 2.957,09 3.018,59 3.081,36 3.145,43
  8 2.457,08 2.508,17 2.560,33 2.613,57 2.667,92 2.723,40 2.780,03
II 7 2.779,98 2.837,80 2.896,82 2.957,07 3.018,58 3.081,36 3.145,45
  6 2.456,97 2.508,07 2.560,24 2.613,49 2.667,84 2.723,33 2.779,98
  5 2.171,49 2.216,65 2.262,76 2.309,82 2.357,86 2.406.91 2.456.97
  4 1.919,18 1.959,10 1.999,84 2.041,44 2.083,90 2.127,24 2.171,49
I 3 2.364,28 2.413,35 2.463,43 2.514,56 2.566,74 2.620,01 2.674,39
  2 2.090,12 2.133,50 2.177,78 2.222,98 2.269,11 2.316,21 2.364,28



(1) The conditions of employment for Temporary Agents are described in the Staff Regulations and in the Conditions of Employment of other Servants of the European Communities in Title II (Articles 8-50), http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/toc100_en.pdf
(2) The conditions of employment for Contract Agents are described in the Conditions of Employment of other Servants of the European Communities in Title IV (Articles 79-119), http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/toc100_en.pdf
(3) The rules can be consulted through the website of the European Commission at the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/sne/index_en.htm
(4) For more information please consult Article 69 of the Staff Regulations and Annex VII, Article 4 to the Staff Regulations
(5) For more information please consult Annex VII, Article 4 to the Staff Regulations
(6) For more information please consult Articles 67 and 68 of the Staff Regulations and Annex VII, Section 1, Article 1 to the Staff Regulations
(7) For more information please consult Articles 67 and 68 of the Staff Regulations, Annex VII, Section 1, Article 2 and Annex XIII, Section 3, Article 14 to the Staff Regulations
(8) For more information please consult Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, Section 1, Article 3 and Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations, Section 3, Articles 14, 15 and 16
(9) For more information please consult Article 74 of the Staff Regulations
(10) For more information please consult Annex VII, Article 5 to the Staff Regulation and Articles 24 and 81 of the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities
(11) For more information please consult Annex VII, Article 10 to the Staff Regulations and Articles 25 and 69 of the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities
(12) For more information please consult Annex VII, Article 9 to the Staff Regulations and Article 22 of the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities
(13) For more information please consult Annex VII, Article 7 to the Staff Regulations and Articles 22 and 67 of the Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities