WRITTEN QUESTION E-3152/97 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997)

Subject: Senior administrative posts for Austrians

Austria has been a member of the European Union for 2 years and its nationals are still definitely under-represented in the Commission's senior management posts, especially in external relations (DG I, IA and IB) and in agriculture (DG VI), Mr Fischler's department.

Will the Commission list the numbers of A3, A2 and A1 posts per Directorate-Generate occupied to date by Swedes, Finns and Austrians and the reasons why Austria is under-represented? Please specify the number of expressions of interest and applications from Austrians for management posts in external relations and agriculture, and the reasons for their rejection.

What head of delegation posts have been offered so far to Austrians and what such posts have been offered to Swedes and Finns?

Which of these posts were taken by them?

What management posts in DG VI have so far been occupied by Austrians?

When does the Commission intend to end this blatant discrimination against Austrians?

How many of the Austrians appointed to senior management posts are members of neither of the two governing parties in Vienna?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (20 November 1997)

In its memorandum 'Enlargement: objectives and practical arrangements at administrative level' adopted in February 1995 ((SEC (95) 230 final. )), the Commission set itself objectives to be attained over a period of five years (1995-99) with regard to the recruitment of nationals of the new Member States. The targets for Austrian nationals at management level are as follows:

A1: 2, including 1 ad personam A2: 5 to 9 A3: 17 to 22 A4/5 (middle management): 11 to 15

To date there are two Austrian A1 officials ad personam and five A2 officials.

The Commission takes steps to reserve management progressively posts in the various departments. Once the posts have been identified, specific competitions are organised.

The current situation is as follows:

>TABLE>

These figures show that recruitment of Austrian nationals to management posts is going ahead as planned.

The following table gives, by grade, the situation as regards recruitment (taken place or under way) of nationals of the three new Member States to the departments mentioned by the Honourable Member.

>TABLE>

Four competitions to fill management posts reserved for Austrian nationals in External Relations and Agriculture have now been closed. In all there were 217 candidates and 8 successful candidates. At present, two posts of Head of Delegation have been reserved for Austrian nationals. One of the possibilities could not be taken up in 1996 because of the lack of suitable candidates to fill the post. A competition to fill one of the other two posts is being launched. Six posts were reserved for Swedish and Finnish nationals and they have been or are being filled.

A management post in DG VI (Agriculture) is held by an Austrian national and a competition to fill a second has been launched.

It does not follow from these data that Austrian nationals are under-represented at management level. On the contrary, they are being recruited in accordance with the pre-established objectives.

Lastly, the Commission holds no data on the political allegiance of its staff (and is not allowed to hold it by the Staff Regulations).