"Official statistics are not just dry numbers: they are the lifeblood of democracy. They are essential for policy makers to make informed decisions, as well as to inform citizens on how economies and societies evolve, so that they can form their own opinion.

I am proud to work in Eurostat’s Directorate on Macroeconomic statistics, as the figures we produce – for instance on Gross Domestic Product or Household Price Index (i.e. inflation), just to mention two very well-known macroeconomic indicators –, crucially support the economic policy of the EU."

“At the Legal Service of the General Secretariat of the Council, I have the opportunity to collaborate closely with colleagues from all EU Member States, working in all EU languages, and contributing to the quality of EU legislation.

As a lawyer-linguist, I especially enjoy working as a quality advisor and ʻchef de fileʼ, overseeing a team of lawyers and other administrators within the Council and from other institutions to legally and linguistically finalise the base language (English) version of legislative files. In these roles, strong coordination and leadership qualities are essential to completing all tasks within tight deadlines.”

“Working for the Quality of Legislation (LEG) team at the Legal Service is to be part of a highly professional and inspiring team.

We constantly seek and find the best way to apply drafting rules to exciting aspects of Union life such as the Covid crisis, rules on chemicals, the environment, health and safety protection, and finance. There is a strong reliance on team discussions to achieve the best approach for new situations – and discussions are invariably collegial and fruitful: no colleague is alone, we find solutions together.

On a daily basis, I feel that my colleagues and I are playing a meaningful, useful and vital role in Union law, and in participating in the project of an ever-closer Union, for citizens and businesses, in all 24 languages.”

“Having grown up between Wallonia and Flanders and having later spent ten years as a young adult in Germany, multilingualism and multiculturalism have always been a part of my life. Working for the Council of the EU combines my passion for language, my multicultural background and my profound belief in the European project. My work as a French-language translator is meaningful and directly serves my fellow citizens and my continent. Due to the very political nature of the Council, deadlines are short and flexibility is required, which means our work can be challenging, but also very stimulating and rewarding.”

“After 20 years in the private sector, I wanted to contribute directly to societal well-being. At the JRC, I work on implementing data initiatives that enable the effective use of data for analytics and artificial intelligence.

Through my work, and that of my colleagues, I can make a real impact by supporting evidence-based policy making across many important topics for society, such as climate change and health.

Beyond the rewarding work, the JRC’s inclusive and multicultural environment fosters collaboration with diverse experts, creating a workplace where innovation thrives.”
 

"At Eurostat we’re developing the European statistics of tomorrow. 

As a statistician, I could not have been part of such a variety of challenging and meaningful projects anywhere else. 

At the heart of the European Statistical System, this is the place to do exciting stuff while making a difference!"

“I started my Commission career in DG ECFIN and have been working for DG Competition in the last ten years as a member of the Chief Economist Team. This group of roughly 30 economists is involved in those competition investigations that require in-depth knowledge of economic theory or complex empirical contributions. Working at the Chief Economist Team gave me the opportunity to work on mergers and acquisitions in several industries, from petrochemicals to stock exchanges, and to contribute to some of the most interesting antitrust investigations concerning Google’s and Amazon’s digital services. Besides the case-specific work we are also involved in policy projects, for example I co-authored a study on how industrial concentration changed in Europe in the last 20 years. As an economist trained in empirical industrial organisation and interested in competition policy, this is indeed a great place to work.”

"My name is Michaela and I am the European Commission Anti-racism Coordinator. Working for the European Commission has deepened my commitment to public service. Every day, I have the opportunity to contribute to policies that strive to reflect European values of human rights, equality and freedom with the aim of uplifting all Europeans, whether addressing inequalities in education, advocating for inclusive digital transformation, or amplifying marginalised voices in policymaking. True public service demands more than good intentions, it requires confronting systemic gaps. As a Black European woman, I’ve felt both the honour and the weight of representing communities often underrepresented in EU spaces. I’ve found strength in turning these gaps into opportunities for change. Initiatives like the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan remind me that progress is possible when institutions prioritise equity as fiercely as they preach it. 
Europe’s strength lies in its diversity, and diverse voices are vital to shaping a Union where everyone belongs."

“European transport policy touches upon everyone’s daily lives. That is what I realised soon after I started working in the Transport Committee of the European Parliament 15 years ago. I am now in DG MOVE (Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport) in the inter-institutional relations team.

In this coordination unit, you have a very good overview of the DG and the pending ad upcoming MOVE proposals. It’s a perfect position to understand the working methods and dynamics of other institutions as well. It is extremely interesting to closely follow the proposals though the different stages of the co-legislation process and to see how the text evolves in the Council working parties/Coreper meetings and parliamentary Committees/plenaries, and later during the trilogue negotiations”.

What is your background and what did you do before becoming a Head of Administration?

I worked at DG INTPA in Finance & Contracts at Headquarters and in the Delegation to the Philippines. My first posting as Head of Administration was at the Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei and ASEAN and now I have been Head of Administration to Myanmar since 2016. In between I worked 2 years at the Inspection and ex-post Division in Headquarters.

In a nutshell, how would you describe the role of Head of Administration in an EU Delegation?

In a nutshell, the Head of Administration has to make sure that everything is in place so that the other colleagues can do their job.

That includes infrastructure (accommodation for expat staff, offices), security, office cars, accounting (payments of all administrative costs of the Delegation and work related expenses of the staff, management of the Delegation’s local bank accounts), tendering of contracts for the above mentioned activities and management of the contracts, human resources of the local agents (recruitment, evaluation, promotion, medical reimbursements), training coordinator, protocol (obtaining visas, diplomatic ID, driver’s licences for all expatriate staff and their family members, import/export authorisations, tax exemptions, consular correspondent, etc) and IT. And when things go wrong in the country, you have to be efficient in crisis management.

What is the most satisfying part of your job? 

The job is so diverse, you never get bored one single moment. And it is very satisfactory to see concrete results of your work.

Why should people apply to work for the EU and in particular for the job of Head of Administration in an EU Delegation?

If you are a person who likes diversity, who believes in the European project and who wants to make a difference, working for the EU is for you!

The job of Head of Administration is without any doubt the most interesting (and challenging) job available for AST officials or Contract Agents. Apart from the Head of Delegation, the Head of Administration has the most responsibilities in a Delegation and you really make a difference in the daily life of your colleagues. The diversity of tasks you are responsible for keep you alert and you learn every day – not only procedures and technical knowledge but also in social skills and about the culture of the country you are posted in.

To feel good as Head of Administration, you must be willing to work a lot and take on responsibilities, have excellent people skills, be a problem solver, be stress resistant and be a positive person.

How do you handle /how do you see the frequent rotation and opportunities for professional growth in EU Delegations / in the EEAS?

Even if you apply for the same job, every country you are posted in brings its own specificities and uniqueness into your daily work. You adapt, learn and grow as a professional and as a person. The EEAS allows you to shorten your posting if the country is not your cup of tea, or extend if you really like it. Through your daily interaction with your colleagues of other sections, you also learn about their job and the EEAS allows you to apply for other types of posts if that is what you want.

What are the advantages of working in a diverse environment like the one of EU Delegations?

We were all raised within our own community with its culture, values and habits. Working in an EU Delegation exposes you to a multitude of cultures, habits and values. Not only from the country you are posted in, but also from your other expatriate colleagues (and friends) who come from all over Europe (the world). These exposures enrich your life, broaden your mind and make you a better person.

What do you find difficult in turn?

Living far away from friends and family is sometime difficult, but the EEAS foresees in annual home leave and rest leaves (in hardship countries) so that you can go back regularly to Europe.

What is it like to work and live in EU Delegations?

First of all, it is important to prepare yourself before you apply for a certain country. Doing a bit of research on life in a country can save you from bad surprises or disappointments. And still then, you will be in for plenty of surprises, which makes it so interesting to work and live in a different country. And while you immerse yourself as much as you want in your new country, inside the Delegation, you will be in an environment that is familiar, a little piece of Europe.

In a Delegation you will be part of a small community with its advantages and disadvantages. It is therefore important to have a positive mindset and maintain good relationships with your colleagues. Overall, I’ve only had good experiences, learned so much, did things I never thought I would be able to do and made friends for life. Of course there are difficult moments, situations or colleagues but that you have everywhere and the advantages of being able to live and work abroad largely compensate for the less pleasant instances you may experience.