WRITTEN QUESTION E-2539/98

by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Pensions and the politicisation of the European civil service

The independence of the European civil service is a sign of transparency and democracy. The basic provisions governing that civil service are the Staff Regulations of Officials and Other Servants, which are applied by the Council by means of legislative acts. As a result, any decision taken by any institutional authority without the Council's agreement has no legal force, no legal basis and is, above all, against the spirit of those regulations.

Can the Commission therefore:

1. provide genuine career planning for officials based on the criteria of transparency and democracy?

2. immediately make appointments to the vacant posts in high grades in the EP's establishment plan and comply with the principle that priority should be given to staff in the institution in which the appointment is being made, putting an end to inter-institutional transfers for which there is at present no justification?

3. arrange for all the expenditure necessary for the proposed purchase of the buildings in Brussels and Strasbourg and undertake as a priority to ensure sufficient funding for the budget items relating to staff?

4. shelve the proposal to create a fund to finance future pensions, given that sizeable payments have already been made by all officials to fund their own pensions (8,25 % of their monthly salary) and that the supplementary payments made by the Member States would be sufficient to guarantee the pension scheme, without threatening to reduce the budget items relating to pensions?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 1998)

1. As part of its reform programme, MAP 2000, adopted on 24 September 1997, the Commission has embarked on whole range of activities to improve the career development of its officials (recruitment, integration into departments, promotions, competitions to change category, training). The work undertaken within the Commission and the various working parties representing the different departments, staff and the administration should shortly result in various proposals for the rationalisation, improvement, simplification and increased transparency of existing systems so that each official can manage his career more rewardingly and find greater satisfaction both in his work and in his working environment. However, career advancement depends primarily on the personal commitment of each official to it, and the Commission cannot programme careers.

2. The Commission must bear in mind that each institution is solely responsible for the appointments made in its departments and that the Commission can in no circumstances interfere in appointments made by Parliament or any other institution. Nor can it put an end to interinstitutional transfers, which are provided for in Article 29(1)(c) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities.

3. The Commission understands that the proposed purchase of buildings in Brussels and Strasbourg is a reference to Parliament as an institution and that this is a matter for that institution. While, in the recent past, the Commission has made purchases and paid deposits on long-term building leases accompanied by purchase options as a result of the transfer of appropriations entered initially in budget items relating to staff, these operations had been approved by the budgetary authority and were made possible mainly by considerable gains over and above budget assumptions in the relationship between the ecu and the Belgian franc.

4. With regard to the request by the Honourable Member to shelve a proposal to create a fund to finance pensions, the Commission states that it has not yet made a proposal to that effect. The Commission would recall that, in response to a request by Parliament, it has undertaken a study of alternatives for financing the pension scheme for Community officials and servants, which is currently funded from the budget. Moreover, the Commission is aware of and accountable for the contributions made by way of deduction from the salary of every official and other servant with a view to financing their share of the scheme.