WRITTEN QUESTION P-0672/97 by Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE) to the Commission (26 February 1997)

Subject: Officials seconded wrongfully and/or in excessive numbers to the Commission's Staff Committee

With reference to the Commission's reply to question P-3437/96 ((OJ C 83, 14.3.1997, p. 128.)) by Mr Bontempi, while the Commission's emphasis on ensuring proper and constructive industrial relations with its employees is to be commended, this should not lead to distortions of the correct procedures.

Could the Commission provide the following information further to the replies it has already given:

1. What is the role of the 52 Commission staff on the staff of the various trade unions or other statutory bodies (32 on secondment and 20 in permanent posts)? Could it state the average and maximum periods of secondment of the 32 staff representatives seconded to trade union and other statutory bodies?

2. Did the Commission check the accuracy of its reply concerning the reintegration of seconded officials into their departments of origin? Judging from their entries in the internal telephone directory, at least one vice-chairman and one political secretary of a professional organization whose terms of office came to an end some years ago occupy offices belonging to the respective trade unions rather than their departments of origin.

3. Could the Commission state the reasons for the appointment as head of the division responsible for the preparation and administration of the thermonuclear fusion programme and long-term planning of an official who, after an initial period of legal secondment, was subsequently 'self-seconded' for a continuous period from 1984 to his appointment in July 1996? Is it true that, prior to this long period of secondment, the official in question was in Category B, and could neither have possessed the necessary experience and professional expertise to head that division nor had the opportunity of acquiring it in the long period of secondment that preceded his appointment to Directorate-General XII?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1997)

1. Officials and other servants seconded in the interests of the service to the central or local staff committee for the duration of their term of office perform, within the bodies mentioned below, the duties referred to in Article 9 and other parts of the Staff Regulations. There are a total of 21 officials 'seconded' to the central staff committee and local committees for Brussels, Luxembourg, Ispra and the staff of the external service. In addition, there are 10 administrative secretaries. As for officials seconded also in the interests of the service for the duration of their term of office to the representative bodies of the organizations which have signed the framework agreement first concluded with these organizations in 1974 and subsequently joined by other organizations, they perform the duties incumbent on them under the provisions of that agreement. They number 11 'seconded' officials assisted by 11 administrative secretaries.

The Commission keeps no statistics regarding the duration of these secondments. However, Article 1 of Annex II to the Staff Regulations stipulates a two-year term office for the Staff Committee. Under the Staff Regulations, these terms may be renewed indefinitely.

In the case of officials serving as trade union representatives, decisions concerning the duration and renewal of their terms of office are taken by the governing bodies of the organization to which they belong.

2. The Commission confirms the content of its answer to Written Question P-3437/96 by Mr Bontempi concerning representation under the Staff Regulations. The same is true as regards trade union representation.

On expiry of their term of office, in one case on the Central Staff Committee in the other in the political secretariat of a trade union/staff association, the two officials in question were reassigned to their original directorates-general.

3. The appointment of the Head of Division referred to by the Honourable Member was made in accordance with the relevant rules of the Staff Regulations after publication of the post and examination of applications by the Consultative Committee on Appointments made up of directors-general of the Commission.

There is no incompatibility between having been on secondment and appointment to a management post. Secondment is an administrative position during which an official can perfectly well acquire experience and know-how serving to increase his or her capacity to manage an administrative unit.

The Commission is delighted that some of its Category B officials progress to Category A and then, in the light of their aptitudes and merits, are entrusted with management responsibilities.