Pros
Working in a multi-cultural environment is probably the bigger interest of working for the European Commission. Maybe we need to be a bit idealistic, but in my view it is a plus, not to work for money only, but with the feeling that your work will serve for the common well-being. I am proud when I can think : if Europe had not act in such or such domain, never the national administration would have make things change, never rules would have been changed. Peace also is a major achievement, dialog between peoples is not to be forgotten. If you come here only for the money and security of job, you will be unhappy; if you join the team with your idealistic views, you will have a good job with the feeling to do something usefull for the next generations. And let us kill a myth : some people are well paid for their responsabilities, but compared with the wages of some CEO in Belgium, our top managers earn the tenth part, and furthermore, when we search for seniors officials, with experience, it is not so rare that they would refuse to join because of the starting salary, much less than what they can have in their private job.
Cons
Of course, a big administration like the Commission needs to show a transparent image in the everyday's life. It creates a huge overhead in every respects of the normal day to day operations, each buying contract requires a slow and long procedure, sometimes for very small expenses, though some huge expenses programs will be poorly managed, or some strategic decision will be taken by political decision, without actual market consultation or sometimes without apparent reasons. The internal controls are much more severe concerning the day to day actions than when political decisions are concerned : it is more difficult to spend 10.000 € than 10.000.000€ : a big amount will have the support of a political decision, the small amounts are to be taken from a budget under pressure. About the carreer development, it is clear that the merit is not a major indication for the carreer evolution, even if they say so : no real rewarding mechanism is set up, neither a real punishment mechanism. It is up to each one to make things happen : whith a bit of cleverness and flexibility, you can have an interesting job, changing of department if you are not satisfied where you are, but it is clear that you will not be able to change completely all your environment : the framework is what it is, just try to derive the best for you and your aspirations. The working conditions are also suffering of the weight of administration's controls and standards, some buildings are very poorly equipped, the fear to be accused of giving extra advantages to the officials makes some services worst than elsewhere (cafeterias, lunches ...) but it is not so definitively bad.