Pros
Salary, amazing tax free pension, gym, top class cantine,business class travel for conferences and learning budget Depending on the department you work and your manager, you can actually learn a ton and develop your own ideas while fulfilling the house/propaganda view
Cons
Most managers are narcissist and egocentric that just execute a political plan and try to please a inner circle. Given the huge salary that the institution pay, these people that were mediocre at best in the private sector feel they are now gods. The institution is so small that everyone is continuously gossipping and talking behind the shoulders. Upper management does not care about the work that has been produced, nor if any relevant idea has been brought to the table, given everything is driven by the large shareholders view on the topic. ESM is basically a marketing tool of EU with no policymaking impact. I left because of the awful culture of provincialism, gossip and total lack of intellectual honesty. Love affairs are very common with partnered people cheating with colleagues. 7/8 couples formed over 170 employee during my time there , that is a 10pct.... Turnover is just crazy, I personally saw 15+ people leaving in 1 year (all non managers) If you are interested in policymaking, avoid at all costs. Great place for former finance people, as the compensation is close to private sector with half the effort.