WRITTEN QUESTION E-2549/98

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Problems concerning Cedefop recruitment

There are constant reports in the Greek press about problems concerning recruitment at Cedefop and the strange procedures being followed. Particular attention has been focused on the odd notices of vacancy, which are almost always accompanied by corrigenda, creating confusion and raising question marks in candidates' minds.

Recently, members of Parliament's Committee on Budgets received Cedefop's Annual Report for 1997, together with two letters of complaint to the Commission from the Director of the Centre, Mr Van Rens. The report states (p. 75) that a total of 88 officials work at the Centre, whereas all the data sent by Cedefop to the Secretariat of Parliament's Committee on Budgets (and to the Council of Ministers) indicates that the total number of officials is 81.

The practices pursued in recruiting staff to the Centre, in conjunction with the contradictory information concerning the exact number of officials, raise legitimate doubts about the running of the Centre.

What is the Commission's official position on this matter and how will it intervene to ensure that the Centre's recruitment and operating procedures are transparent, thereby putting an end to the disparaging remarks being made about it and its host country, Greece, which is working hard to ensure that the Centre can pursue its activities in an orderly fashion?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(19 October 1998)

Cedefop is a decentralised body set up under a specific Regulation. It is autonomous as regards its staff policy, over which the Commission has no control beyond being represented on its Management Board. By decision of the Management Board the appointing authority¢s power of appointment was delegated to the Director for all categories and grades of staff except the appointment or promotion of the Director, over which the Management Board retains decision-making powers (see Regulation 337/75). The Management Board handles general matters of staff policy and related budgetary aspects. Each year it adopts a work programme, and in support of the statement of revenue and expenditure "there shall be submitted a list of posts including, for each category of staff, a detailed list of authorised posts and actual numbers of persons holding posts on the date of submission of the estimate ..." (Council Regulation No 1416/76, as last amended by Council Regulation No 1948/93, Article 12 (1)). The Centre has always complied with the above, interpreting "category of staff" to include the four categories (A, B, C and D) specified in Article 4 of the Staff Regulations. It does not include local staff. The 81 officials to whom the Staff Regulations apply, appearing on the list of posts, is exceeded because the annual report includes extra staff such as local staff. In practice, the budgets of most agencies and Community institutions include an item for local staff with varying appropriations.

The Honourable Member refers to two letters of complaint to Parliament¢s Committee on Budgets referring to the amount earmarked by the Commission for the Centre¢s subsidy in 1999. In fixing the 1999 budget proposal for Cedefop, the Commission had to take account of the general budgetary constraints affecting the preparation of the 1999 preliminary draft budget.

The agencies have, however, requested and formally obtained Commission assistance in certain areas, in particular the payment of salaries and pensions and management of the common sickness insurance scheme; in return, they pay for services rendered.

In the case of staff management, relations between the Commission and the agencies are less formal. The Commission plays an advisory role on proposals for the grading of staff recruited by Cedefop. The Commission¢s opinions are based on the 1983 internal rules which Cedefop applies to all posts, including management. Commission Financial Control, which also audits Cedefop, ensures observance of the rules when it is asked to endorse requests for commitments from the Director of the Centre in his capacity as appointing authority.

Some years ago the Commission took measures to provide an advisory service for the agencies, in response to a request from the agencies to help them align their practices with those of the institutions with respect to application of the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, in particular when Cedefop was moved to Thessalonika.