WRITTEN QUESTION E-3139/01

by Gianfranco Dell'Alba (NI) to the Commission

(14 November 2001)

Subject: Mission expenses of Commission staff

The daily allowance paid to Commission staff on mission (Article 13 of Annex VII of the Staff Regulations) has remained virtually unchanged for years despite a steady rise in the costs of accommodation, subsistence and transport.

Can the Commission give:

1. The reasons for this squeeze, which penalises staff on mission and obliges them to put up with lower standards?

2. Data comparing the daily mission allowances paid by the main international organisations (for missions in Europe and outside Europe), the amounts received by Member State civil servants on mission abroad and those received by the staff of other Community institutions (EP, Council, etc)?

3. Has the Commission assessed whether or not the benefits of low-cost tourist fares are cancelled out by higher costs arising from time lost by staff or restrictions on changing tickets?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 2001)

1. Allowances paid for missions within the Union were last modified by the Council in 1999 with the adoption of Council Regulation (EC, ECSC, Euratom) 620/1999 of 22 March 1999. That measure adjusted the daily subsistence allowance rates for officials on mission within the European territory of the Member States that are laid down in Article 13 of Annex VII to the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities(1). A further adjustment is foreseen in the context of the current administrative Reform. It is proposed that all staff on missions be allocated the allowances that are currently only valid for grades A1-A3.

For missions outside the European Union, a draft proposal for modification of the existing rates has been sent to the Staff Regulation Committees for opinion. The Commission hopes that a decision can be taken by the beginning of next year. A table showing the proposed figures will be transmitted directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat.

2. Tables which include comparative data on rates of allowances paid to civil servants of the EU Member States, to officials of the other EU Institutions, and to staff of the main international organisations will be transmitted directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament's Secretariat.

These tables include missions within the Union and outside the Union.

3. Since entering into a contract with its designated travel agent in April 1999, the Commission has had success in obtaining more flexible preferential rates in economy class (very few or no modification/cancellation charges) for midweek travel to the most frequently visited mission destinations.

Measures taken by the Commission and put into operation by its designated travel agent have resulted in global savings, in particular through reducing the length of time spent on mission and the payment of extra daily subsistence allowances (reduction in the number of weekends spent on mission). Charges payable for cancellation and/or modification of special rate tickets with very restrictive conditions (Apex) have also been reduced.

(1) OJ L 78, 24.3.1999.