WRITTEN QUESTION E-0354/03 by Anne Jensen (ELDR) to the Commission. Future Commission initiatives.
Date: 2003-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU initiative, EU publication, European Commission, European social policy, drafting of EU law, employment policy, enlargement of the Union, social dialogue (EU), social-security benefit

14.8.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 192 E/175

Could the Commission indicate:

1. what the budgetary savings would have been for the financial year 2002 had these weighting factors

not been applied;

2. what the costs to the 2004 budget would be if:

(a) no weightings are applied;

(b)

the Commission’s proposal is implemented;

(c)

the current system continues to be applied?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

As the Honourable Member will know, the variable weighting factor (the ‘correction co-efficient’)
provided for in the Staff Regulations of the EU Civil Service.

is

In answer to his specific questions:

1.

2.

If correction coefficients had not applied in 2002,
the net budget savings would have been
EUR 39,4 million (EUR 44,7 million deriving from a reduction in expenditure and EUR 5,3 million
from a reduction in revenue).

In the three scenarios suggested in the question, the costs (expenditure minus revenues) of correction
coefficients in 2004 would be:

(a) Zero if no weightings were applied. However, since Pensioners’ legitimate expectations would
there could be a cost of up to

‘acquired rights’, (1)

seem to require the protection of
EUR 36 million to the budget.

(b)

If the Commission’s proposal, including the proposed transitional measures (2), is implemented,
the cost will be EUR 38 million.

(c)

If the current system was to continue to be applied, the cost would be EUR 42 million.

The Honourable Member is aware that this issue is receiving in-depth consideration in the Parliament and
in Council in the course of deliberations on proposals to make modernising amendments to the current
Staff Regulations. The above replies reflect the established conditions as well as the implications of the
Commission proposals as tabled.

(1) See Article 21, Annex XIII, Commission proposal (cid:1) OJ C 291, 26.11.2002.
(2) See Articles 20 and 21, Annex XIII, Commission proposal (cid:1) OJ C 291, 26.11.2002.

(2003/C 192 E/213)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0354/03

by Anne Jensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Future Commission initiatives

Can the Commission state what specific plans it has for the social sector including planned measures to be
implemented in the light of the enhanced social dialogue at EU level? Can it also state what future
measures are envisaged for adoption in relation to e.g. Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (1)?

C 192 E/176

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

What initiatives does it envisage in the years to come pursuant to Article 42 and the following provisions
of the EC Treaty:

(cid:1) Article 137(1), 1st to 5th indents,

(cid:1) Article 137(2),

(cid:1) Article 137(3), 1st to 5th indents,

(cid:1) Article 137(4)-(6)?

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2003)

The Commission’s specific plans for the social affairs field, in accordance with the competencies set out in
Article 137 of the EC Treaty, are set out in the Social Policy Agenda (1) which covers the years 2000 to
2005. The Commission adopted the third Scoreboard on the implementation of the social policy agenda
on 6 February 2002. The mid-term review of the agenda takes place in 2003. The review will take stock of
what has already achieved, and will provide an opportunity to identify the priorities for action for the
coming years including for the articles in the EC Treaty mentioned by the Honourable Member. A high-
level conference with a view to having a structured debate on the policy issues to be addressed and
deepened in the second phase of the Social Policy Agenda,
is being organised by the Commission in
Brussels on 19/20 March 2003. The purpose of the mid-term review conference is to provide a Europe-
wide platform for all relevant actors to express themselves publicly on the review of the social policy
agenda: governments, European Parliament, social partners, regional and local authorities, non govern-
mental organisations, social organisations,
interest groups, European Economic and Social Committee,
Committee of the Regions, Employment Committee, Social Protection Committee, Union agencies, experts
and analysts, international organisations, etc. The mid-term review will be finalised in a Communication to
be presented by the Commission in May/June 2003.

The Commission’s White Paper on European Governance (2001) identified the crucial and unique position
of the social dialogue in the democratic governance of Europe.

On 26 June 2002, the Commission presented a proposal for a Council decision to establish a ‘Tripartite
Social Summit for Growth and Employment’.
It will enable the social partners to contribute in an
integrated way to the different components of the strategy, and will draw on the discussions held in the
macroeconomic dialogue, the dialogue on employment and the dialogue on social protection.

On 28 November 2002 at the Social Dialogue Summit in Genval, the social partners adopted a joint
multi-annual work programme for the period 2003-2005. The work programme signifies an autonomous
bipartite social dialogue. It is centred around the three themes of employment, mobility and enlargement.

The Commission plans to present
in Spring 2003 a proposal with miscellaneous amendments to
Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security
schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community (2). This proposal will
contain technical amendments to address issues which arise from changes made in national legislation or
in reaction to rulings of the Court of Justice.

It furthermore envisages, within the framework of the European Health Insurance Card, to present in the
course of 2003 a proposal to align the rights concerning health care for persons temporarily staying in
other Member States than the one where they are insured.

In 2004, the Commission intends to present a proposal for an implementing Regulation when discussions
of the proposal to simplify and modernise Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 in Council and Parliament have
been concluded.

(1) COM(2000) 379 final.
(2) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971.