Fundamentals of EU Civil Service Law

Building on more than a decade of continued success with advanced conferences focusing on the latest developments in EU civil service law, EIPA has identified the need to enrich its annual offer with a foundational course that provides participants with a structured and rigorous introduction to the discipline. This new course responds to increasing demand for a solid command of the normative framework, substantive rules, and jurisdictional mechanisms governing the employment relationship between the EU institutions and their staff.

A thorough understanding of EU civil service law is essential for a wide range of professionals: legal counsellors advising on staff matters, HR officials applying the Staff Regulations, trade-union representatives defending staff rights, and lawyers litigating before the General Court. The course bridges knowledge gaps by offering a systematised overview of the principles, rules and case-law that shape the EU administration’s internal legal order. It equips participants, whether newcomers or experienced professionals seeking consolidation, with the foundational conceptual, legal and procedural tools needed to work confidently and competently with EU staff regulations.

What will you learn

The course is structured around three fundamental pillars of EU civil service law:

1. Normative and Institutional Framework

• The structure and sources of EU civil service law (Staff Regulations and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, General Implementing Provisions, internal rules)
• Key general principles (good administration, equal treatment, legitimate expectations, rights of the defence).
• Institutional actors and competences (Appointing Authority, Staff Committees, EU courts).

2. Substantive / Material Law

• Legal status, categories and types of EU staff; rights, obligations and privileges.
• Career structures: selection procedures, recruitment, grading, probation, appraisal and promotion systems.
• Working time, leave entitlements, telework, financial rights (remuneration, allowances), social protection, and medical/disciplinary procedures.
• Protection mechanisms (harassment, duty of care, whistleblower safeguards).

3. Procedural & Jurisdictional Aspects

• Administrative pre-contentious procedures under Articles 90 and 91 of the Staff Regulations.
• Jurisdiction of the General Court and Court of Justice, types of actions, admissibility and remedies.
• Litigation techniques and procedural requirements for staff cases.
• Understanding judicial reasoning through analysis of landmark case-law.

Methodology

The course will be delivered by a team of leading experts in EU civil service law, combining academic authority with extensive hands-on experience as legal practitioners and institutional advisers.

Teaching methods include:

• Interactive lectures providing conceptual clarity and practical insights.
• Group discussions, enabling exchange of experience among participants.
• Case studies drawn from real EU jurisprudence.
• A legal simulation exercise designed to reinforce procedural understanding and practical skills.
• Ample time for Q&A and peer-to-peer reflection.

Drawing on the insights of leading judicial and academic sources and reflecting EU training priorities identified by European institutions, the course pursues a threefold aim:

1. To provide a systematic and accessible introduction to the legal framework governing EU staff, enabling participants to understand the rationale, structure, and functioning of EU civil service law.
2. To strengthen participants’ ability to apply substantive and procedural rules correctly in professional contexts, whether administrative decision-making, HR operations, advisory functions, or litigation.
3. To foster coherent and high-quality practice across EU institutions and legal professions, in line with EU-level initiatives training legal and administrative professionals in EU law.

The course is suited for all professionals needing a solid grounding in EU civil service law, including but not limited to:

• HR officers, administrators and legal advisers working in EU institutions, bodies and agencies.
• Legal counsellors and compliance officers involved in staff matters at EU or international organisations.
• Lawyers practising or intending to practise before the General Court in staff litigation.
• Members of trade unions, staff committees and staff representation bodies.
• National civil servants dealing with EU seconded staff or EU administrative cooperation.
• Advisors from international organisations with staff regimes inspired by the EU model.
• Early-career professionals seeking to specialise in EU administrative and employment law.
• Academics and researchers needing a structured introduction to the field.

Project number: 2650600

Course venue
European Centre for Judges and Lawyers – EIPA Luxembourg
8 rue Nicolas Adames
1114 Luxembourg

Programme Organiser
Ms Elisa Dolci
Tel: +352 691 108 038
e.dolci@eipa.eu

Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments, lunches and a cocktail and networking reception. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount
EIPA offers 10% off on registrations made eight weeks or more before the start of a course. The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.

Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.

Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.

Hotel reservations
EIPA has special price arrangements with a number of hotels. Most rates are including breakfast and tourist tax. Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please book directly via the links below. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel upon checking out.

Luxembourg Kirchberg

• Hotel Novotel Suites Kirchberg****, at the rate of €193, tel.: +352 429848-1; booking page: accorhotels.com (Company ID: SC000002048 – Access Code: IN281LU654).
• Hotel D’Coque***, via https://www.coque.lu/coque-hotel-superior/online-booking, tel.: +352 43 60 60 222

Luxembourg Centre

• Hotel Français***, at the rate of €160, tel.: +352 47 45 34; e-mail: info@hotelfrancais.lu; https://www.hotelfrancais.lu/ (Reservation code: EIPA).
• Hotel Simoncini****, at the rate of €200., tel.: +352 22 28 44; e-mail: simhotel@pt.lu or simoncinihotel@pt.lu; https://www.hotelsimoncini.lu/.
• Hotel Vauban***, at the rate of €160, tel.: +352 220493; e-mail: info@hotelvauban.lu; https://hotelvauban.lu/
• Hotel Parc Plaza****, at the rate of €179, Hotel Parc Bellevue***, at the rate of €143, (Reservation code: EIPA0118; https://www.goereshotels.com, +352 44 23 23 23 23; e-mail: reservation@goereshotels.com;

Luxembourg Dommeldange

• DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg ****, at the rate of €150, (Reservation code: EIPA0118): http://www.luxembourg.doubletree.com/

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants. EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).

A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.