A Temporary Agent (TA) is an EU staff member hired on a fixed-term contract under Article 2 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS). Temporary Agents are graded on the same AD and AST scales as permanent officials and do similar work, but their employment is tied to a specific post or project rather than to a reserve list.
EU agencies, the European External Action Service and several Commission services rely heavily on temporary agents because they need specialised expertise faster than an EPSO competition can deliver. Selection is run directly by the recruiting body: a vacancy notice is published on the agency website and on the EU Careers portal, candidates apply with a CV and motivation letter, and the agency runs its own written test and interview. Initial contracts are typically 2 to 5 years and can be renewed once or twice; in agencies, contracts may be converted to "indefinite duration" after the second renewal. Pay is based on the AD or AST grade printed in the vacancy notice and includes the full set of EU allowances. Temporary agents enjoy the same Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme, pension and leave rights as officials. The main career trade-off is that promotion between grades is rarer than for officials, because TA contracts are tied to a specific post. Many TAs sit an EPSO open competition during their contract to secure permanent status.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a Temporary Agent different from a Contract Agent?
- TAs are graded on the AD/AST scale and usually take on more senior or specialised roles; their contracts can become indefinite in agencies. Contract Agents are graded on the Function Group scale and are capped at 6 years in most institutions.
- Do I need to pass an EPSO competition to become a Temporary Agent?
- No. Temporary agents are recruited by individual institutions and agencies through their own selection procedures, not by EPSO. EU citizenship and the diploma requirements in the vacancy notice still apply.