How we work

Overview

The EU Agencies Network (EUAN) follows a clear governance model that helps members collaborate, take decisions, and deliver results efficiently. The model combines strategic leadership, operational coordination, and thematic cooperation across the Network.

Key bodies include:

Assembly of the Heads of Agencies (HoA)
the main decision-making body that sets strategic direction and adopts common positions.
Assembly of the Heads of Resources (HoR)
focuses on resource management and operational matters.
Coordinating Agency
leads the Network for one year, sets the priorities, organises meetings and represents EUAN externally.
Steering Board
ensures continuity and supports the Coordinating Agency. It includes the past, present and future Coordinating Agencies, plus a small-size Agency and a Joint Undertaking.
Pillar Coordinators
oversee work in key areas (e.g. finance, HR & legal, policy support) and align activities across sub-networks and groups.
Sub-Networks, Working Groups and Task Forces
deliver the strategy and annual work programmes on specialised topics.
EUAN Shared Support Office (SSO)
provides day-to-day coordination, communication and administrative support.

The Coordinating Agency and the Steering Board

EUAN is chaired each year by a Coordinating Agency, which sets priorities, convenes meetings and represents the Network externally. The EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) took over coordination on 1 March 2025. European Labour Authority (ELA) is due to take on the role in March 2026.

The Steering Board supports continuity by bringing together the past, present and future Coordinating Agencies alongside a small Agency and a Joint Undertaking.

Governing assemblies

The Network is governed by two assemblies that meet at least twice a year:

Heads of Agencies (HoA) – provides strategic direction and adopts common positions.
Heads of Resources (HoR) – addresses resource and operational topics to implement decisions efficiently.

Working bodies: how collaboration happens

Thematic Sub-Networks, Working Groups and Task Forces implement the EUAN Strategy and annual work programmes, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and produce tangible deliverables that benefit members and EU citizens.

Examples of thematic cooperation:

Inter-Agency Accountants’ Network (IAAN)
promotes cooperation, coordination and knowledge sharing on common accounting issues in the EU Agencies and JUs
ICT Advisory Committee (ICTAC)
promotes cooperation between EU Agencies and JUs in the area of information and communication technologies by sharing knowledge, experience and good practice
Network for Agencies’ Procurement Officers (NAPO)
coordinates procurement plans and joint calls, shares expert knowledge and best practice
Inter-Agency Appeal Proceedings Network (IAAPN)
enhances collaboration and legal research efficiency, supports consistency across appeal systems
Inter-Agency Legal Network (IALN)
provides training and shared workspaces for civil service law, procurement and ethics.
Heads of Communication and Information Network (HCIN)
exchanges best practice and coordinates on visibility, reputation and stakeholder relations
EU-ANSA (Network on scientific advice)
shares scientific good practices and supports evidence for policymaking
Performance Development Network (PDN)
advances principles and methods for results-oriented management, indicators, reporting and benchmarking
Greening Network (GN)
promotes sustainability, environmental management and the implementation by Agencies and JUs of Environmental Management Systems
European Fee-Receiving Agencies Network (EFRAN)
promotes inter-agency cooperation between the EU Agencies that are fully or partially financed by fees charged to stakeholders
Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I)
Shares information and good practices to develop common approaches on diversity and inclusion and promote an inclusive workplace culture across the Network.
Working Group on Accredited European Schools (AES)
coordinates cooperation between EU Agencies on issues related to Accredited European Schools and represents the Network in the Board of Governors’ WG on AES under the European Commission.
Working Group on Archives and Records Management (ARM)
promotes cooperation on data, archives and records management to share good practices and develop coordinated approaches across the Network.

Shared services and joint initiatives:

Shared Services Pilot Project – pooling resources in HR, procurement and cybersecurity for participating agencies (EIT, ENISA and EFSA).
AI Working Group – enhance cooperation on AI activities, foster learning and best-practice exchange, and identify tangible AI use cases that deliver clear benefits.

Human resources cooperation

HR cooperation focuses on compliance with the Staff Regulations and sharing services and expertise. Communication on HR topics is coordinated internally (working groups, task forces, ad-hoc requests) and externally with stakeholders such as DG HR, Council working parties, European Parliament committees and the European Court of Auditors.

Pillar Coordinators

Pillar Coordinators manage work in key policy areas and align activities with EUAN’s strategic priorities. They oversee activities within their designated pillar, including budget and finance, HR and legal, and EU policy support, and coordinate delivery across Sub-Networks, Working Groups, and Task Forces. Pillar Coordinators also play a key role in fostering collaboration, identifying synergies, and reporting progress to the Steering Board and the Assembly of the Heads of Agencies.

Shared Support Office (SSO)

Based in Brussels, the SSO represents the institutional memory of the Network and serves as a communication and connection hub between the EU institutions and the EUAN members, in addition to providing essential support and advisory services to the EUAN working and governance bodies.

The SSO performs the following tasks:

coordinates the day-to-day governance of the Network under the lead of the Coordinating Agency and the Steering Board
supports the activities carried out in thematic Sub-Networks, Working Groups and Task Forces
maintains working relations with EU institutions and bodies.

How decisions turn into results

The strategy and priorities are set by the HoA (with input from HoR).

The Coordinating Agency, supported by the Steering Board and the SSO, organises delivery and external representation.

The Sub-Networks, Working Groups and Task Forces implement the strategy through projects and guidance, producing concrete outputs for members and citizens.

The Pillar Coordinators ensure alignment, capture synergies and report progress back to the governance bodies.