diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 3971380..5401d72 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,27 @@ stages:
   - update
   - deploy
 
+  variables:
+    TIMEZONE: "Europe/Amsterdam" # For the system in general
+    DATE_TIMEZONE: ${TIMEZONE} # For PHP
+
+    GIT_DEPTH: 1
+    GITLAB_API_URL: ${CI_API_V4_URL}
+    TARGET_BRANCH: ${CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME} # This is the branch chosen in the `Pipeline Schedule`
+    TARGET_REMOTE: "https://${GITLAB_USERNAME}:${GITLAB_ACCESS_TOKEN}@${CI_SERVER_HOST}/${CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE}/${CI_PROJECT_NAME}.git"
+
+    # These could/should be overridden in an extending job:
+    UPDATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: "update_PHP_deps_" # Used for the update branch name, it will be followed by the datetime
+    GIT_USER: "" # Used for the update commit
+    GIT_EMAIL: "" # Used for the update commit
+    GITLAB_USERNAME: "" # Used for pushing the new branch and opening the MR
+    GITLAB_ACCESS_TOKEN: "" # Used for pushing the new branch and opening the MR
+    MERGE_IF_SUCCESSFUL: "false" # Set to true, to merge automatically if the pipeline succeeds
+    SECONDS_BETWEEN_POOLING: 10 # Nbr of seconds between checking if the MR pipeline is successful, so then it will merge
+    JOB_GIT_FLAGS: ""
+    JOB_CURL_FLAGS: ""
+    JOB_COMPOSER_FLAGS: ""
+
 composer_update:
   stage: update
   image: composer:latest