WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039/01 by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Entitlements for cohabiting EU staff.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European official, married person, regulations for civil servants, unmarried person

C 93 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2001)

The Commission is informed, through both its own sources and media reports about the ongoing conflict
in Irian Jaya/West Papua, and especially about the operations of security forces in this Indonesian province.

The problems of violent regional unrest and structural economic and social problems are discussed
frequently with the Indonesian Government, at all appropriate occasions and at various levels. In parallel,
the Commission maintains contacts with representatives of the local population in Irian Jaya/West Papua.

It is to be hoped that the Indonesian Parliament will shortly consider proposals for a substantial autonomy
for the province. In the meanwhile, the Commission intends to focus its 2002-2004 work programme for
including Irian Jaya/West Papua, covering health,
development assistance on a number of provinces,
education and institutional strengthening.

(2002/C 93 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2039/01

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Entitlements for cohabiting EU staff

There is still discrimination against some groups of EU staff. Those not living in a heterosexual marriage
are denied access to a number of fringe benefits. This is true whether they have been cohabiting for a
number of years or live in a registered partnership.

Some EU institutions have however offered the opportunity for cohabitants to register their relationship
with the institution. In some cases this entitles their partners to individual fringe benefits such as language
courses.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. How many EU employees have registered their cohabitant partners with the various EU institutions?

2. What entitlements have the various EU institutions given such couples?

3. At what cost?

4. Have there been any cases of abuse?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

1.
At present, 148 officials and other Servants of the European Communities have registered their
cohabitant partner with the Commission. The Commission naturally does not retain figures relating to the
other EU Institutions.

2.
On 9 July 1996, the Commission adopted a memorandum on staff arrangements that recognises
cohabitation by heterosexual and by homosexual partners, and grants cohabiters access to certain
administrative facilities.

In order to benefit from the latter, the official or other Servant concerned will be required to complete a
sworn statement of cohabitation and furnish documentary evidence (in particular a certificate of residence)
that they have cohabited for a period of not less than six months. The Commission will then issue a
cohabitation certificate.

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/53

This certificate gives the cohabiter access to certain Commission premises such as the restaurants,
cafeterias, Foyer or the staff shop. The cohabitant partner is also allowed to join family clubs, sporting and
social activity clubs of the Institution and make use of the services of welfare officers in the event of
difficulty. He or she may also attend language courses, subject to availability of places. Priority is given to
other candidates if they are officials. An official may be granted special leave in the event of the serious
illness or death of his or her cohabiting partner.

Under the current Staff Regulations the only type of partnership that can be recognised for the purpose of
financial status and provision is heterosexual marriage. This implies that the cohabiter of an official is not
entitled to, for instance, family allowances, annual travel expenses, health insurance or surviving spouse’s
pension. Unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples with dependent children are, however, eligible
for the family allowances relating to those children.

This differentiation between married and unmarrried couples could only be addressed if stable partnerships
outside of marriage were recognised for the purpose of receiving the same benefits.

The White Paper on Reforming the Commission (1), published on 1 March 2000, states that conditions for
recognising stable partnerships outside marriage will be established (Part II, actions 51 and 53).

As part of the ongoing Administrative Reform Strategy, a study is being conducted on these issues in order
to identify legally acceptable and workable arrangements that would prevent discrimination against
officials who do not have legal recourse to marriage and would confer rights and obligations on such
partnerships.

3.
The financial impact of the entitlements referred to in answer 2 has not been calculated in the way
that could provide information in the form sought by the Honourable Member. However, it is clear that >
due to their nature > certain entitlements do not carry any financial implications, whereas others (such as
language courses and special leave) have an indirect, but still limited financial impact.

4.
The Commission is not aware of any cases of abuse of entitlements under the current arrangements.
If and when such cases arise they would be dealt with under the provisions of the Staff Regulations and in
keeping with principles of good management.

(1) COM(2000) 200.

(2002/C 93 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2046/01

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Conduct of EU Technical Assistance Programmes (PHARE and TACIS) in the Ukraine

Can the Commission state what action it has taken to implement the recommendations made in the report
entitled ‘Ukraine > Evaluation of EC Country Programme’, published in July 1998, and to learn from any
mistakes made during TACIS and PHARE intervention in the Ukraine?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 September 2001)

The 1998 evaluation of the Ukraine Programme concluded that TACIS technical assistance projects had
not always resulted in a real improvement in Ukrainian policies, mainly because of a lack of agreement on
the direction reforms should take. The impact has been greatest in training and institution building with
substantial benefits for individual project partners, while private sector development has shown mixed
results, particularly in enterprise restructuring. The evaluations recommended focusing assistance on a
more limited number of priority areas and to base the programme on a policy dialogue with the Ukrainian
authorities.

Since the evaluation, the Commission has worked to improve the focus of TACIS support for the Ukraine,
by working increasingly in dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities in the context of our Partnership and
Co-operation Agreement. Achieving a better focus of TACIS is also a central aim of the new Council