Archives: Glossary Terms

AD 7 is one of the initial grades for Administrators and is considered an entry grade, although the salary of an Administrator AD 7 is higher than for most Contract Agents.

AD 8 is one of the grades for Administrators and is considered an initial seniority grade. The salary of an Administrator AD 8 is higher than for most Contract Agents.

Individuals in the AD 9 grade are typically mid-level managers and possess significant professional experience. AD 9’s are responsible for important policy development, operational delivery, and decision-making tasks within the EU institutions.

EU officials in the grades AD5 to AD16. AD5 to AD7 are considered entry-level grades, AD9 to AD12 are considered middle management grades, while AD 13 to AD16 is the upper management at the European Commission and other EU institutions.

‘Agent contractuel’ is the French term for a ‘Contract agent’ in EU institutions.

AIACE is the International Association of Former Staff of the European Union. AIACE enjoys special Partnership Agreements with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice, the European Social and Economic Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the Court of Auditors, and the Council of the European Union.

‘Allowances’ are financial payments to employees of EU institutions that are paid on top of the ‘basic salary’, depending on an employee’s personal or professional situation. Examples of allowances are the Household allowance, Daily subsistence allowance, Education allowance, Expatriation allowance, Foreign residence allowance.

AMLA is the new EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority. It will become operational in 2026 with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. AMLA was established to strengthen the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) across the 27 EU member states. The AMLA will have the following key functions and responsibilities: Information about AMLA salaries.

EU officials in the grades AST1 to AST11. Usual tasks for administrators entail mostly technical, but sometimes also executive functions in administration and human resources, finance, and IT. Less frequently assistants can also perform communication, research and policy-related tasks.

A ‘basic salary’ is the same as ‘basic pay’ in EU institutions. The ‘basic salary’ is the amount an employee of an EU institution is entitled to according to the relevant ‘scale of basic salaries’ for Administrators, Assistants, or Contract agents. Any allowances and other entitlements are not counted as part of the basic salary.

A ‘basic salary’ is the same as ‘basic pay’ in EU institutions. The ‘basic salary’ is the amount an employee of an EU institution is entitled to according to the relevant ‘scale of basic salaries’ for Administrators, Assistants, or Contract agents. Any allowances and other entitlements are not counted as part of the basic salary.

A ‘Birth grant’ is a one-time payment to an EU official due to birth of a new child or adoption of a child younger than five years of age. The amount of the Birth grant is EUR 198,31, subject to the Correction coefficient.