By virtue of the Treaty establishing the European Community and the Statute of the ESCB, the ECB has the power to define its staff policy autonomously. The Conditions of Employment were the result of long discussions with the representatives of staff at the time and are comparable with those at other European and international institutions. They form an integral part of the individual contracts of employment concluded by the ECB with its staff members. ECB staff members originate from all EU Member States and enjoy salaries and social benefits, which are comparable with those at other European and international organisations.
Salaries are competitive and social benefits are very favourable.
Such benefits include family allowances, expatriation and settlement allowances, a pension plan and health insurance. In addition, the ECB has programmes in place to support members of staff recruited throughout the European Union in transferring themselves and their families to Frankfurt. In 1999 the ECB's staff expenses amounted to some EUR 50 million for an average level of 648 staff members. The rights of the ECB staff are protected by the legal system of the European Community. According to the Treaty, the Court of Justice of the European Communities has jurisdiction in any dispute between the ECB and its staff.