EN Official Journal of the European Union L 59/1

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC, EURATOM) No 351/2006

of 27 February 2006

laying down the weightings applicable from 1 July 2005 to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Communities serving in third countries and of certain officials remaining in post in the ten new Member States for a maximum period of fifteen months after accession

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and the conditions of employment of other servants of the Communities laid down by Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 (1), and in particular the first paragraph of Article 13 of Annex X thereto,

Having regard to the 2003 Treaty of Accession, and in particular Article 33(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) It is necessary to take account of changes in the cost of living in countries outside the Community, and to determine accordingly the weightings applicable from 1 July 2005 to remuneration payable in the currency of the country of employment to officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Communities serving in third countries and to certain officials remaining in post in the ten new Member States for a maximum period of fifteen months starting on 1 May 2004.

(2) The weightings in respect of which payment has been made on the basis of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 257/2005 (2) may lead to retrospective upward or downward adjustments to remuneration.

(3) Provision should be made for back-payments in the event of an increase in remuneration as a result of the new weightings.

(4) Provision should be made for the recovery of sums overpaid in the event of a reduction in remuneration as a result of the new weightings for the period between 1 July 2005 and the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

(5) Provision should be made for any such recovery to be restricted to a period of no more than six months preceding the date of entry into force of this Regulation and for its effects to be spread over a period of no more than twelve months following that date, as is the case with the weightings applicable within the Community to remuneration and pensions of officials and other servants of the European Communities,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

With effect from 1 July 2005, the weightings applied to the remuneration of officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Communities serving in third countries and to certain officials remaining in post in the ten new Member States for a maximum period of fifteen months starting on 1 May 2004, payable in the currency of the country of employment, shall be as shown in the Annex.

The exchange rates used for the calculation of this remuneration shall be established in accordance with the rules for the implementation of the Financial Regulation and shall correspond to the date referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 2

1. The institutions shall make back-payments in the event of an increase in remuneration as a result of the weightings shown in the Annex.

2. The institutions shall make retrospective downward adjustments to remuneration in the event of a reduction as a result of the weightings shown in the Annex for the period between 1 July 2005 and the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

Retrospective adjustments involving the recovery of sums overpaid shall be restricted to a period of no more than six months preceding the date of entry into force of this Regulation. Recovery shall be spread over no more than twelve months from that date.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 27 February 2006. For the Council The President U. PLASSNIK

(1) OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 31/2005 (OJ L 8, 12.1.2005, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 46, 17.2.2005, p. 1.