WRITTEN QUESTION E-1030/02 by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Council. Appointment of senior Council officials.
Date: 2002-04-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, administrator, competition (EU), ethnic group, gender equality, personnel administration, position of women

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/73

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council continues to be actively involved in the search for peace in the Middle East, on the basis of
the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Ministers discussed the issue when they met on 3 April in
Luxembourg and again in the margins of the Vth Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Valencia. The
question of the Middle East was also on the agenda for the General Affairs Council on 15 April and
subsequently on 13 May. It again appeared on the agenda for the General Affairs Council meeting on
17 June 2002. The Secretary-General/High Representative, Javier Solana, has recently again visited the
region, meeting both the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Arafat, and the Israeli Prime Minister,
Mr Sharon, and participated alongside the President of the Council in the Quartet meeting at ministerial
level in Washington on 2 May. The Council shares the view of the Honourable Member that a political
solution is essential to bring lasting peace and security in the region.

(2002/C 309 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1030/02

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Council

(15 April 2002)

Subject: Appointment of senior Council officials

In 1999 and 2000, the European Commission laid down a number of guidelines for the appointment and
career development of its senior officials.

These rules include the following principles:

(cid:1) Merit must be the dominant criterion for decisions on senior appointments;

(cid:1) The career advancement of A1 and A2 officials must take due account of the results of regular

performance appraisals;

(cid:1) As a general rule, A1 and A2 officials are subject to mobility after 5 years and cannot normally stay in

a post for more than 7 years;

(cid:1) A1 posts are generally opened up to competition.

1. What rules does the Council apply to the appointment and career development of its senior officials?

How many A1 and A2 officials does the Council employ? How many are women? How many belong

2.
to ethnic minorities?

How many current A1 and A2 Council officials have been in their post for 5 years or more? How

3.
many have been in their post for 7 years or more?

How many open competitions have been held since 1999 for the replacement of A1 and A2

4.
officials?

Does the Council plan to hold open competitions for future vacancies at A1 and A2 level? If not,

5.
why not?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council informs the Honourable Member that in the appointment of its senior officials the Council
applies the procedures provided for in the Staff Regulations and other relevant texts (1). All posts at the A1
and A2 levels are published internally in accordance with Article 4 of the Staff Regulations. Where
appropriate, on the basis of Article 29(2) of the Staff Regulations (2) the vacancy notices are also sent to the
other Institutions and to the Member States. The vacancy may be published in national and/or
international newspapers or professional periodicals, according to the circumstances. An Advisory

C 309 E/74

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Selection Committee set up by the Appointing Authority examines all candidacies received within the
published deadline, and establishes a list of candidates who it considers best respond to the specific job
requirements. It endeavours to recruit, in accordance with Article 27 of the Staff Regulations, officials of
the highest standards of ability, efficiency and integrity. It chooses from among nationals of Member States
on the broadest possible geographical basis without distinction as to race, beliefs or sex.

These candidates are then called for interview. A report and short list of appropriate candidates is then
submitted to the Appointing Authority. In the case of A1 appointments, the Deputy Secretary-General of
if necessary after further interviews, makes a proposal of nomination to the Appointing
the Council,
Authority, the Council, which, having at its disposal the personal dossiers of the short-listed candidates,
decides.

In the case of A2 appointments, the Appointing Authority, the Deputy Secretary-General, decides on the
basis of the report of the Advisory Selection Committee and, where necessary after further interviews. An
analysis of the current situation reveals that 2 of 14 Directors-General and 19 of 33 Directors now in
service were officials of the General Secretariat prior to their appointment at the A2 level. The Council
underlines that in so doing, it has, as explained in the first paragraph, acted in strict conformity with the
provisions of the legal texts governing the appointment of officials at A1 and A2 levels.

The procedures applied are open to the officials of all Community Institutions and, via the information
provided to the authorities of each Member State, and the publication referred to above, to the nationals of
Member States. Although the procedure described may not be that of an ‘open competition’ in the sense of
the Staff Regulations,
in the sense of offering an
opportunity on a wide basis to persons both within and outside the institutions, who meet the required
conditions, to present their candidacy.

the Council considers that it is genuinely ‘open’

The tables in annex supply the required statistics (see points 2 and 3 of the question).

Tableau effectif A1 en place

Pays

En place au 1.5.2002
(fonct. et temp.)

Dont femmes

(Bruxelles, le 6 mai 2002)

Nombre de A1 avec ancienneté
dans même service

5 ans ou +

7 ans ou +

B

DK

D

GR

ES

F

IRL

I

L

NL

A

P

FIN

S

UK

1

0

1

1

1

1

0

1

1

2

1

0

1

1

2

Total

14

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

4

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/75

Tableau effectif A2 en place

Pays

En place au 1.5.2002
(fonct. et temp.)

Dont femmes

(Bruxelles, le 6 mai 2002)

Nombre de A2 avec ancienneté
dans même service

5 ans ou +

7 ans ou +

B

DK

D

GR

ES

F

IRL

I

L

NL

A

P

FIN

S

UK

1

3

(1) 4

0

4

5

1

5

1

1

1

1

0

1

5

Total

(1) 33

(1) Dont 2 agents temporaires.

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

6

1

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

5

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

5

In particular Council Decision of 20 October 1999.

(1)
(2) A procedure other that the competition procedure may be adopted by the Appointing Authority for the recruitment

of grade A1 or A2 officials.

(2002/C 309 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1032/02

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 April 2002)

Subject: Destruction of valuable wildlife habitats across Eastern and Central Europe as a result of the

development of transport infrastructure

Infrastructure Needs Assessment (TINA) report provides a blueprint

The EU provides financial aid for the development of transport infrastructure in Eastern and Central
for this
Europe. The Transport
international
development in the applicant countries. However,
importance for the conservation of birds, or Important Bird Areas (IBAs), will be destroyed as a result of
the work done on the TINA network. A recent study by Birdlife International found that at least 21 % of
IBAs are likely to face damage from developments under TINA. This is in conflict with EU environmental
legislation on nature conservation.

there is some concern that sites of

What reliable measures does the Commission have to protect IBAs and other sites of high conservation
value in the EU applicant countries which are potentially damaging transport infrastructure developments
under TINA? What plans does the Commission have to prepare a Strategic Environment Assessment of the
TINA network in the EU applicant countries?