EU trade unions have threatened to make diplomats sit entrance exams if they want to join the bloc's new foreign relations body in an escalating row over pay.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) will after April 2010 begin recruiting thousands of diplomats from EU member states to swell its ranks. The diplomats are to become "agents temporaires" or temporary EU civil servants for the duration of their Brussels posting.
Under normal EU rules, agents temporaires have to sit...
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Already a member? Login hereAndrew Rettman is EUobserver's foreign editor, writing about foreign and security issues since 2005. He is Polish, but grew up in the UK, and lives in Brussels. He has also written for The Guardian, The Times of London, and Intelligence Online.
Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's foreign editor, writing about foreign and security issues since 2005. He is Polish, but grew up in the UK, and lives in Brussels. He has also written for The Guardian, The Times of London, and Intelligence Online.