COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 17.07.1998 
COM(1998) 455 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC, ECSC, Euratom) 
ADJUSTING THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE RATES FOR OFFICIALS ON MISSION 
WITHIN THE EUROPEAN TERRITORY OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN 
UNION LAID DOWN IN ARTICLE 13 OF ANNEX VII TO THE STAFF REGULATIONS OF 
OFFICIALS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. BACKGROUND 
(1) Under Article 13 of Annex VII the daily subsistence allowance rates for 
officials on mission within the European territory of the Member States of the 
European Union may be adjusted by the Council acting by qualified majority 
on a Commission proposal 
(2) The current allowances were set by the Council on 22 July 1991 (Regulation 
No 2232/91) following a survey of hotel rates and restaurant prices. 
(3) The scales fixed then no longer reflect prevailing economic conditions and 
this, compounded by the accession of three new Member States, means that 
the daily subsistence allowance rates and the ceilings for the reimbursement of 
hotel expenses for missions within the Member States urgently need revision. 
(4) On 23 September 1996, the Commission sent the Council a proposal,1 which 
set out to: 
(a) bring allowances for the twelve Member States already covered by the 
Staff Regulations into line2 with levels applied by Parliament since 
1996; 
(b) (i) bring the daily allowances for Austria, Finland and Sweden within 
the scope of the Staff Regulations and (ii) update them at the same 
time; 
(c) extend the scales for A4-A8 and category B officials to category C and 
D officials for missions to headquarters; 
C0M(96) 451 final 96/0232(CNS) 
on the basis of Eurostat's consumer price indices for the hotel and catering industries and the exchange 
rates applied from 1990 to 1996. 
(d) introduce a simple automatic annual adjustment procedure, whereby the 
Commission takes the decision to adjust the rates and informs the other 
institutions. 
(5) Annex VII to the Staff Regulations gives the Council the power to adjust 
allowances by adopting a decision on the basis of a Commission proposal, 
without the need for consultation. However, it must seek the opinion of the 
other institutions for amendments to the Staff Regulations3 (points b, c and d). 
(6) The Court of Auditors and Court of Justice had no comments to make in 
response to the Council's letter of 21 October 1996, but on 12 March 1997, 
Parliament adopted the Tappin report4 calling for seven amendments to the 
Commission proposal. 
(7) On 31 July 1997, the Commission sent the Council an amended proposal5 
incorporating some of Parliament's amendments and brining the scales in line 
with those most recently adopted by Parliament6 (on 4 February 1997). 
(8) The Council's Staff Regulations working party examined the proposal on 
8 March 1997 and the amended proposal on 8 July 1997, 7 October 19997 and 
18 November 1997. It transpired that: 
(a) a qualified majority was prepared to accept adjustment based on the 
indices for the hotel and catering industries and exchange rates, without 
using Parliament's scale as a starting point; 
(b) there would be no problems incorporating Austria, Finland and Sweden 
into the Staff Regulations; 
(c) most countries wanted the system to be revised in a way that reflected 
different national practices (comparative study, use of averages for the 
fifteen Member States, a single scale for all grades, reimbursement of 
actual costs etc.); 
(d) there was unanimous opposition to any form of annual adjustment 
procedure. 
3 Article 24 of the Treaty establishing a single Council and Commission of the European Communities 
4 EP A4-0039/97 
5 COM(97) 429 final 96/0232(CNS) 
6 The proposal took the scale used by Parliament in 1997 as its starting point. 
(9) The chair of the Council's Staff Régulations working party asked the 
Commission to present a proposal which did not provide for any automatic 
adjustment or a "starting point". 
2. PROPOSED DECISION 
Consequently, the Commission has decided to remove the automatic adjustment 
procedure and the "starting point" from its proposal and, for procedural reasons, to: 
(1) present, on the basis of Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations, the 
attached proposal dealing solely with the adjustment of the scales for the 
twelve Member States already covered by the Staff Regulations (on the basis 
of price trends7 and exchange rates and without taking Parliament's scale as a 
starting point); 
(2) present, on the basis of Article 24 of the Treaty, a second proposal to bring 
the scales for Austria, Finland and Sweden within the scope of the Staff 
Regulations, without adjusting them. 
The purpose is simply to acknowledge the fact that they are now inside the 
Community, without changing the scales used, thus neutralising the impact 
on the budget. Nevertheless, the proposal requires a separate procedure: the 
Staff Regulations Committee and the other institutions must be invited to 
give their opinion for any amendment to the Staff Regulations); 
(3) consider a comparative study into the situation in the Member States with a 
view to a possible reform of the system.8 
The attached proposal sets out to adjust the daily subsistence allowance rates 
for the twelve Member States already covered by Article 13 of Annex VII to the 
Staff Regulations. 
7 as reflected in the harmonised price indices for the hotel and catering industries. 
8 Any such reform might for example, resurrect the idea of applying the scale for A and B grade staff to 
grades C and D, for missions to headquarters. 
PROPOSAL FOR A 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC, EEC, EURATOM) NO ... 
OF 
ADJUSTING THE DAILY SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE RATES FOR OFFICIALS ON MISSION 
WITHIN THE EUROPEAN TERRITORY OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN 
UNION LAID DOWN IN ARTICLE 13 OF ANNEX VII TO THE STAFF REGULATIONS OF 
OFFICIALS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing a single Council and a single Commission of 
the European Communities, 
Having regard to the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment 
of Other Servants of the European Communities laid down by Regulation (EEC, 
Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68,' as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom, ECSC) 
No 2591/97,2 and in particular Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations and 
Articles 22 and 67 of the Conditions of Employment, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas the rates of daily subsistence allowance for officials on mission should be 
adjusted in order to take account of the changes in prices and exchange rates recorded 
in the different mission locations within the European Union since 1991; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
1 OJL 56,4.3.1969 
2 OJL 351, 23.12.1997 
Article 1 
Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations is amended as follows: 
1. The scale in paragraph 1(a) is replaced by the following: 
Member States 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 1 
Grades A1 - A3 
and LA3 
3391 
3699 
2991 
2663 
2779 
2928 
3265 
2434 
3308 
3157 
2780 
3505 II 
Grades A4 - A8, 
LA4 - LA8 and 
category B 
6036 
7232 
5127 
4566 
5700 
5256 
6664 
5237 
5788 
5958 
5768 
8036 (Belgian francs) 
III 
Other categories 
5586 
6688 
4745 
4225 
5275 
4865 
6161 
4845 
5351 
5514 
5337 
7436 
2. The first sentence in paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: 
"2. In addition to the rates set out in Column I of the foregoing scale, the hotel 
bill covering room, service and taxes, but excluding breakfast, shall be 
reimbursed up to a maximum of 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 
BFR 4723 
5974 
3914 
4019 
5106 
3924 
5620 
4612 
4313 
5315 
5038 
6011 for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for 
for Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all 
Member States. 
Done at Brussels 
For the Council 
The President 
1998 daily subsistence allowances Annex I 
°Ç> B 
DK 
D 
GR 
E 
F 
IRL 
I 
L 
NL 
P 
UK 
1 A1toA3 
Daily 
allow, not 
ind. hotel 
2635 
3130 
2465 
1680 
2550 
2395 
2565 
2610 
2535 
2625 
2000 
2510 
2 1991 Staff Reg. amounts 
BFR 
A1IOA3 
Ceiling 
hotel 
3670 
5055 
3225 
2535 
4685 
3210 
4415 
4945 
3305 
4420 
3625 
4305 
3 A4toA8 
andB 
Daily 
allow, ind. 
hotel 
4690 
6120 
4225 
2880 
5230 
4300 
5235 
5615 
4435 
4955 
4150 
5755 
4 Other 
grades 
Daly 
allowance 
ind. hotel 
4340 
5660 
3910 
2665 
4840 
3980 
4840 
5195 
4100 
4585 
3840 
5325 
5 1991 Staff Reg. amounts 
Exchange 
rate to BFR 
Oct-90 
1 
5,3912 
20,599 
0.20915 
0,32874 
6,1532 
55,287 
0,027517 
1 
18,269 
0,23150 
60,433 A1 to A3 
Daily 
allow, not 
ind. hotel 
2635,0 
580,6 
119,67 
8033 
7757 
389,23 
46,39 
94850 
2535,0 
143.69 
8639 
41,53 
6 7 National currencies 
A4toA8 
A1toA3 andB 
Daily 
Ceiling allow, ind. 
hotel hotel 
3670,0 4690,0 
937,6 1135,2 
156,56 205,11 
12120^13770 
14251 15909 
521,68 698,82 
79,86 94,69 
179707 204056 
3305.0 4435,0 
241,94 271,22 
15659 17927 
71,24 95,23 
e 9 Other 
grades 
Daily 
aHow. ind. 
hotel 
4340,0 
1049,9 
189,82 
12742 
14723 
646,82 
87,54 
188792 
4100,0 
250,97 
16587 
88,11 
10 1998 indexed amounts 
National currencies 
Hotel and 
catering 
CPI 
Oct90-
Nov97 
28,7% 
17,6% 
21,2% 
154,0% 
46,8% 
22,2% 
32,5% 
22,3% 
30,5% 
20,1% 
59,3% 
43,2% A1 to A3 A1 to A3 
Daily 
allow not Ceding 
ind hotel hotel 
3391,2 4723,3 
682,8 1102,7 
145,04 189,75 
20403 30786 
11387 20921 
475,64 637,49 
61,47 105,81 
116002 219782 
3308,2 4313,0 
172,57 290,57 
13762 24944 
59,48 102,01 
11 12 13 A4toA8 
andB 
Daily 
allow ind. 
hotel 
6036,0 
1335,0 
248,59 
3^976 
23355 
853,96 
125,46 
249560 
5787,7 
325.74 
28557 
136,37 
14 Other 
grades 
Deity 
allow, ind. 
hotel 
5585,6 
1234,6 
230.06 
32365 
21613 
790,41 
115,99 
230893 
5350.5 
301.42 
26424 
126,18 Exchange 
rate to BFR 
Nov-97 
1 
5.4173 
20.625 
0,13054 
0,24408 
6,1551 
53,113 
0,020984 
1 
18,292 
0,20198 
58,930 
15 16 A1 to A3 
Daily 
allow, not 
ind. hotel 
3391 
3699 
2991 
2663 
2779 
2928 
3265 
2434 
3308 
3157 
2780 
3505 
17 1998 indexed amounts 
BFR 
A1 to A3 
Ceiling 
hotel 
4723 
5974 
3914 
4019 
5106 
3924 
5620 
4612 
4313 
5315 
5038 
6011 
18 A4toA8 
andB 
Daily 
allow, ind. 
hotel 
6036 
7232 
5127 
_w4566 
5700 
5256 
6664 
5237 
5788 
5958 
5768 
8036 
19 Other 
grades 
Daily 
allow, ind. 
hotel 
5586 
6688 
4745 
4225 
5275 
4865 
6161 
4845 
5351 
5514 
5337 
7436 
20 Proposed 
change in BFR 
terms (%) 
B 28,7% 
DK 18,2% 
D 21,3% 
GR 58,5% 
E 9,0% 
F 22,2% 
IRL 27,3% 
i -6,7% 
L 30,5% 
NL 20,2% 
p 39,0% 
UK 39,6% 
21 22 
INAN< IAI- SiA I I;MI:N T FOR PROPOSAI. TO ADJUST MISSION AIJ.OWANCK.S - 1098 - K1IK 12 ANNKX 2 
Ollieials mill oilier iliill I hilly ttiiNsioti allowances (nil punies) i hotel expenses lor A I- A 1 (I'nrliuiuunl ulrcudy grunts allowances ol 
higher or c(|iinl vnltie mid is Ihcrclorc mil included) 
Budget 
headings 
A70I 
A1040 
sub-section 
B6and 
B21830, 
B43070 
for 
the research 
budget 
Total in BFR m 
Total in ECU in 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
(jrecce 
Spain 
Fiance 
licland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdor 
Total in BFR m 
Total in ECU n Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany 
Greece 
Spain 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
llion 
illion* 
Adjustment 
28,7% 
18,2% 
21.3% 
58,5% 
9,0% 
" ">"/« 
27.1% 
-6,7% 
30,5% 
20,2% 
39,0% 
i 39,6% 
llion 
nillion* Commi.ssion 
Operating 
47,601 
11,427 
27,098 
13,305 
30,172 
64,224 
19,292 
52,081 
36,781 
19,544 
16,205 
35,696 
373,427 
9.2 
13,662 
2,080 
5,772 
7,784 
2,715 
14.258 
5.267 
-3,48" 
11,218 
3,948 
6,320 
14,136 
83,669 
2,1 Commission 
Research 
30,146 
4,377 
19,793 
4,352 
20,598 
41,966 
3,196 
37,096 
4,126 
6,377 
4,229 
45,363 
221,620 
5,4 
8,652 
0.797 
4.216 
2,546 
1,854 
9,116 
0.872 
-2.485 
1,259 
1,288 
1,649 
17,964 
47,928 
1,2 Annual amount in BFR 
Commission 
Sub-lolal 
77,747 
15,804 
46,891 
17,657 
50,770 
106,190 
22,488 
89,178 
40,908 
25,921 
20,434 
81,059 
595,047 
14,6 Council 
0,395 
0,246 
1,783 
0,182 
1,130 
5,647 
3,130 
2,411 
14,727 
6,611 
0,470 
1,194 
37,925 
0,9 
Total difference in BFR 
22,313 
2.876 
9,988 
10,330 
4,569 
23.574 
6.139 
-5,975 
12,477 
5,236 
7,969 
32,100 
131,597 
3,2 0,113 
0.045 
0,380 
0.107 
0,102 
1.254 
0,854 
-0.162 
4,492 
1,335 
0,183 
0,473 
9,176 
0,2 million 
Court of 
Auditors 
9.167 
0,547 
1,624 
0,488 
1,781 
2,131 
0,740 
1,715 
0,010 
0,462 
0,487 
1,720 
20,872 
0,5 
million 
2,63 1 
0.100 
0,346 
0,286 
0,160 
0.473 
0.202 
-0.115 
0,003 
0,093 
0,190 
0,681 
5,050 
0,1 Court of 
Justice 
0,027 
0,017 
0,123 
0,013 
0,078 
0,389 
0,216 
0,166 
1,016 
0,456 
0,032 
0,082 
2,616 
0,1 
0,008 
0,003 
0.026 
0,007 
0,007 
0,086 
0.059 
-0,011 
0,310 
0,092 
0,013 
0,033 
0,633 
0,0 ESC-CoR 
0,027 
0,017 
0,123 
0,013 
0,078 
0,389 
0,216 
0,166 
1,016 
0,456 
0,032 
0,082 
2,616 
0,1 
0.008 
0,003 
0,026 
0,007 
0,007 
0,086 
0,059 
-0.01 1 
0,310 
0,092 
0,013 
0,033 
0,633 
0,0 Total for all 
institutions 
87,364 
16,630 
50.544 
18,353 
53,837 
114,747 
26,790 
93,636 
57,675 
33,906 
21,456 
84,138 
659.075 
16,2 
25.073 
3,027 
10.766 
10,736 
4,845 
25.474 
7,314 
-6.274 
17.591 
6,849 
8,368 
33,319 
147,088 
3,6 
•Rate at 1.3.98 ECU 1 =BFR 40.7757 
Detached national experts 
Budget 
headings 
A7003 Daily mission allowances 
Annual amount in ECU million 
Operating 
18,5 Research 
0,0 Total 
18,5 Adjustment 
0,3 Difference in ECU million 
Operating | Research 
5,3| 0,0 Total 
5,3 
Kxpcrts attending meetings 
Budget 
headings 
A2VMI 
A."H0 
A25H 
A2560 
A703O 
A70H 
A 703 2 
A7033 
B2I830 
B43070 
B67111 
B67112 
B67113 
B67211 
B67311 
Total Subsistence expenses 
Annual amount in ECU mil 
Operating 
0,05-1 
0.05 1 
0.059 
0,058 
1,132 
0,500 
0,622 
0,115 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
2,6 Research 
0,000 
0.000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0.000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,018 
0,047 
0,011 
0,018 
0,028 
0,035 
0,010 
0,2 ion 
Tolal 
0,054 
0,053 
0.059 
0,058 
1.132 
0,500 
0,622 
0,115 
0,018 
0,047 
0,011 
0,018 
0,028 
0,035 
0,010 
2,8 Adjustment 
33,5% 
33.5% 
33.5% 
33.5% 
33.5%, 
33.5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% 
33,5% Difference in ECU mil 
()peruting 
0,018 
0.018 
0.020 
0,020 
0,379 
0.167 
0,208 
0,038 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,9 Research 
0,000 
0.000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,000 
0,006 
0,016 
0,004 
0,006 
0,009 
0,012 
0,003 
0,1 ion 
Total 
0,018 
0.018 
0.020 
0.020 
0.379 
0.167 
0,208 
0,038 
0,006 
0,016 
0,004 
0,006 
0,009 
0,012 
0,003 
0,9 
' The difference with the adjustment in BFR terms (28.7%) results of changes in the ECU-BFR exchange rate, from 42.2812 on 1/8/91 to 40.7757 on 1/3/98. 
Summary 
Officials and other staff 
Detached national experts 
Experts attending meetings 
Total cost of adjusting daily mission allowances in ECU million 9,8 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 455 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 01 06 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-466-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-38320-1 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg 
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