WRITTEN QUESTION E-1512/01 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission. Age limit applicable in Open Competition COM/A/6/01 (OJ C 110, 11.4.2001, p. 15) for the recruitment of administrators.
Date: 2001-05-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: age discrimination, competition (EU), equal treatment, job access, personnel administration

C 364 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(cid:129) to improve the standards of the vehicles, the Commission adopted on 9 April 2001 a proposal for
a Council Regulation concerning ventilation systems of road vehicles used for journeys exceeding eight
hours (2).

An additional proposal amending Directive 91/628/EEC will also be presented aiming at further improving
the situation. Furthermore on receipt of a new opinion of the Scientific Committee on Animal Welfare
expected for the end of 2001, a redefinition of travelling times and loading densities will be considered.

When drafting the proposal amending Directive 91/628/EEC, the Commission will also consider the latest
developments that have affected animal transport in Europe and in particular in the light of the recent
foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.

The procedure to amend Directive 91/628/EEC, including its annex, is based on Article 37 (ex Article 43)
of the EC Treaty. This article provides for the Parliament to be consulted.

(1) OJ L 102, 12.4.2001.
(2) COM(2001) 197 final.

(2001/C 364 E/146)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1510/01

by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Council

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Council President(cid:146)s statements in North Korea

During his visit to North Korea, the President of the Council, G(cid:246)ran Persson, described that country(cid:146)s
dictator, Kim Jong Il, as a (cid:145)lively, well-informed and open man(cid:146), according to the Swedish (pro-government)
newspaper Aftonbladet.

Does the Council consider this to be an apt description of a tyrant with the lives of thousands, if not
millions, of people on his conscience?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The Council has made no secret of its concerns regarding the human rights situation in North Korea.
Those concerns form an integral part of the Union(cid:146)s policy towards North Korea. This was clear, for
example, in the lines of action which the Council adopted in November 2000. The Council therefore
welcomes the agreement reached with the DPRK during the recent high-level EU visit to Pyongyang to
begin discussions on human rights issues. An exploratory meeting to this end was held between the EU
and DPRK in Brussels on 13 June. The Council hopes that the DPRK will be ready to enter into
a substantive dialogue, which will bring early, concrete and significant improvements to the dismal human
rights and humanitarian situation in the country.

(2001/C 364 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1512/01

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Age limit applicable in Open Competition COM/A/6/01 (OJ C 110, 11.4.2001, p. 15) for the

recruitment of administrators

In April 2001, the Commission published in the daily newspaper (cid:145)Die Presse(cid:146) the eligibility requirements
relating to Open Competition COM/A/6/01 for the recruitment of some 150 administrators. Under Section
B of the notice (Special conditions), the Commission stipulated that candidates must not be older than 45.
Accordingly, only persons born after 25 May 1955 were eligible to take part in the competition.

20.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Does the Commission normally lay down age limits for its competitions?

If so, have any potential candidates who have been unable to take part in competitions because of the age
restriction lodged complaints against the Commission?

If so, why has the Commission not taken those complaints as grounds for abolishing the age restriction?

On what criteria was the age limit based on 25 May 1955 selected for this competition?

What advantage does the Commission expect to derive from restricting entry to persons who are under
45?

Given that the proportion of employable young people in Europe has been constantly diminishing because
of the declining birth rate, lengthier periods of training, etc., would not the Commission be best advised to
consider abandoning the practice of laying down age limits?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 2001)

The Commission agreed to the principle of abandoning age limits for recruitment in January 1998. It also
expressed the view that a co-ordinated approach on this matter was needed amongst all the European
Institutions. As a result (cid:129) and in order to be consistent with the approach of Parliament as an employer (cid:129)
the Commission adopted an interim solution by introducing a higher age limit of 45 years, instead of 35
years, for its competitions for recruitment at basic grades.

As a general rule the age limit for competitions for recruitment at basic grades such as A7/A6, B5/B4 or
C5/C4 is currently 45 years, and that applied to competition COM/A/6/01. The application of an age limit
in the notices of competition is in full compliance with Article 1(g) of Annex III of the Staff Regulations.

To date, three complaints have been received that relate to the competition referred to in the Hon
Member(cid:146)s question. They will be considered by the Selection Board. That Board is independent and
sovereign in its decision on the admission of candidates on the basis of the criteria set out in the notice of
competition.

The Commission is reforming its administrative practices and it reaffirmed the commitment to abandoning
age limits for open competitions in Part II of the White Paper (1) of 1 March 2000.

The Honourable Member may wish to note that the provisions of Council Directive 2000/78/EC of
27 November 2000 establish a general framework for equal treatment, employment and occupation and
that Article 6 allows for differences of treatment on grounds of age where these are objectively and
reasonably justified. In particular Article 6, 1c allows for differences of treatment on grounds of age
through the fixing of a maximum age for recruitment where this is based on the training requirements of
the post in question or the need for a reasonable period of employment before retirement. The approach
of the Commission is, naturally, consistent with Community law.

(1) COM(2000) 200 final.

(2001/C 364 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1518/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Licensing of free miners in the Forest of Dean

While one perfectly understands the needs for free miners to be licensed by the relevant authorities, what
seems unclear is why there must be a substantial charge to such licences.