Proposal for a Council Regulation amending the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities
Date: 2008-11-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: national service, remuneration of work, servant (EU), social security, work contract

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 14.11.2008 
COM (2008) 786 final /2 
(adopted as SEC(2008)2604) 

2008/0224(CNS) 

CORRIGENDUM 
annule et remplace le document COM(2008)786 final du 12.11.2008 
(ajout de la cote interinstitutionnelle) 
Concerne uniquement les versions FR/EN/DE 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

amending the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European 
Communities  

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

•  Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

The  objective  of  this  proposal  is  to  introduce  in  the  Conditions  of  Employment  of 
Other  Servants  (CEOS)  provisions  that  create  a  new  category  of  staff  which  is 
specific  to  the  European  Parliament.  It  covers  the  assistants  to  Members  of  the 
European  Parliament  (MEPs),  based  in  one  of  the  European  Parliament's  places  of 
work  (Brussels,  Strasbourg,  Luxembourg),  with  the  exception  of  those  assistants 
working in MEP offices in the country of election, e.g. constituency offices, and aims 
to clarify and improve their current situation while fully respecting the particularity 
of their tasks in the Parliament. 

•  General context 

The  current  system  of  engaging  of  assistants  to  MEPs,  which  is  based  entirely  on 
private law contractual arrangements, seems to be no longer compatible with the size 
and complexity of a Parliament composed of MEPs from 27 Member States. It puts a 
very  heavy  administrative  burden  both  on  Parliament's  administration  and  on 
individual  MEPs.  Apart  from  this  administrative  burden,  the  application  of  27 
different  tax  and  social  security  systems  to  persons  working  between  Brussels, 
Strasbourg,  Luxembourg  and  other  parts  of  Europe  results  in  numerous  constraints 
concerning the position of MEPs' assistants.  

In  2000,  in  the  context  of  the  Commission  proposal  of  19  May  1998,  the  Council 
declared that it was fully aware of the need to regulate the conditions of employment 
of  parliamentary  assistants  and  to  improve  their  current  situation.  To  that  end,  the 
Council  pointed  out  that  on  26  April  1999,  when  examining  the  draft  Statute  for 
Members  of  the  European  Parliament,  it  adopted  principles  which  it  regards  as 
essential in that regard: 

–  direct  payment  of  assistants  by  Parliament,  under  the  responsibility  and  in 

accordance with the personal instructions of the MEP concerned; 

–  the existence of a written contract registered with the European Parliament; 

–  compliance with the applicable provisions relating to taxation and social security. 

These principles are respected by the present proposal by which the new category of 
Parliamentary  Assistants  is  introduced  in  CEOS.  Persons  falling  within  the  new 
category  would  be  engaged  by  the  European  Parliament  for  a  MEP  after  being 
selected by MEP. 

Specific  rules  are  introduced  for  governing  this  new  category  of  staff,  taking  into 
consideration  the  specific  features  of  the  tasks  of  the  Parliamentary  Assistants  and 
their relations with the European Parliament and the MEPs. 

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The  introduction  of  this  new  category  in  CEOS  would  also  bring  about  the 
replacement of 27 different contract relation, taxation and social security schemes by 
one single scheme. 

•  Existing provisions in the area of the proposal 

Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 259/68 laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials 
of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants 
of the Communities 

Decision of the European Parliament of 28 September 2005 adopting the Statute for 
Members of the European Parliament (2005/684/EC, Euratom) 

•  Consistency with the other policies and objectives of the Union 

Not applicable. 

2. 

CONSULTATION  OF 
ASSESSMENT 

INTERESTED 

PARTIES  AND 

IMPACT 

•  Consultation of interested parties 

Not relevant. 

•  Collection and use of expertise 

There was no need for external expertise. 

•  Impact assessment 

The draft proposal is limited to introducing a new category of staff in CEOS, i.e. no 
external  impacts  are  expected.  For  this  reason,  there  was  no  need  for  an  impact 
assessment. 

3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

•  Summary of the proposed action 

The  proposal  lays  down  rules  introducing  a  new  category  of  assistants  to  MEPs  in 
the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants. 

•  Legal basis 

Article 283 of the Treaty establishing the European Community 

•  Subsidiarity principle 

The  proposal  falls  under  the  exclusive  competence  of  the  Community.  The 
subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply. 

•  Proportionality principle 

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The  proposal  is  consistent  with  the  principle  of  proportionality  for  the  following 
reason: 

In accordance with the principle of proportionality, it is necessary and appropriate for 
the  achievement  of  the  basic objective  of  covering  the assistants of  MEPs based in 
one of the European Parliament's places of work (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg) 
by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants to lay down rules on this new 
category respecting its specifics. This proposal does not go beyond what is necessary 
in order to achieve the objective pursued. 

•  Choice of instruments 

Proposed instrument: regulation. 

Other means would not be adequate for the following reason: 

The proposal concerns the amendment of an existing instrument. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION 

The proposal has no implication for the Community budget. 

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2008/0224(CNS) 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL REGULATION 

amending the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European 
Communities  

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 
283 thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the  Protocol  on  the  Privileges  and  Immunities  of  the  European 
Communities, and in particular Article 13 thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  presented  by  the  Commission  after  consulting  the  Staff 
Regulations Committee1, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Justice3, 

Having regard to the opinion of the opinion of the Court of Auditors4, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

According  to  Article  21  of  the  Statute  for  Members  of  the  European  Parliament5, 
Members  shall  be  entitled  to  assistance  from  personal  staff  that  they  may  freely 
choose. At present, Members employ all their staff directly under contracts subject to 
national  law,  while  recovering  the  costs  incurred  from  the  European  Parliament, 
subject to a fixed maximum amount. 

A limited number of such staff (hereinafter referred to as “parliamentary assistants”) 
assist  one  or  more  Members  within  the  premises  of  the  European  Parliament  in 
Strasbourg,  Brussels  and  Luxembourg.  The  others  work  for  Members  in  the  country 
where they have been elected. 

(3) 

In  contrast  to  the  latter,  parliamentary  assistants  are,  as  a  general  rule,  expatriates. 
They work in the premises of the European Parliament in a European, multilingual and 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ C , , p. . 
OJ L 262, 7.10.2005, p. 1. 

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(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

(10) 

multicultural environment and undertake tasks which are directly linked to work of the 
European Parliament. 

This  has  been  confirmed,  moreover,  by  the  Court  of  First  Instance  of  the  European 
Communities  which  has  recognised  that  parliamentary  assistants  may  in  certain 
respects  be  considered  for  the  purposes  of  the  Staff  Regulations  of  officials  of  the 
European  Communities  and  the  Conditions  of  Employment  of  other  servants6  to  be 
performing duties for the Parliament7. 

For  these  reasons  and  with  a  view  to  ensuring  transparency,  non-discrimination  and 
legal certainty through common rules, it is appropriate to provide for such assistants, - 
with  the  exception  of  persons  working  for  Members  in  the  Member  State  in  which 
they  were  elected,  including  persons  working  locally  for  Members  elected  in  one  of 
the Member States in which the three places of work are situated -, to be employed by 
way of direct contract with the European Parliament. 

It  is  therefore  appropriate  for  such  assistants  to  be  subject  to  the  Conditions  of 
Employment  of  other  servants  in  such  a  way  as  to  take  account  of  their  particular 
circumstances. 

The introduction of this specific category of servants does not affect Article 29 of the 
Staff Regulations which provides that internal competitions are only open to officials 
and temporary staff. 

Parliamentary  assistants  thus  constitute  a  category  of  staff  specific  to  the  European 
Parliament,  in  particular  with  regard  to  the  fact  that  they  support  Members  of 
Parliament in their capacity as democratically elected representatives entrusted with a 
mandate, in carrying out their duties. 

Accordingly, it is necessary to amend the Conditions of Employment of other servants 
to a limited extent in order to incorporate this new category of staff. 

In the light of the nature of the duties of assistants, it is necessary to provide for only 
one  category  of  assistants,  but  divided  into  grades,  to  which  assistants  should  be 
assigned according to criteria to be determined in an internal decision of the European 
Parliament. 

(11)  The  contracts  of  parliamentary  assistants  concluded  between  them  and  the  European 
Parliament  should  be  based  on  mutual  trust  between  the  parliamentary  assistant  and 
the Member or Members of the European Parliament whom he assists. 

(12)  The principle of budgetary neutrality should be observed in respect of the introduction 
of  this  new  category  of  staff.  In  this  respect,  the  European  Parliament  shall  pay  into 
the  general  budget  of  the  European  Union  the  entire  amount  of  the  contributions 
needed  to  finance  the  pension  scheme  with  the  exception  of  the  contribution  under 

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Council  Regulation  (EEC,  Euratom,  ECSC)  No  259/68  of  29  February  1968  laying  down  the  Staff 
Regulations  of  Officials  and  the  Conditions  of  Employment  of  Other  Servants  of  the  European 
Communities (OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1). 
Judgment of 19 June 2007 in Case T-473/04, Asturias Cuerno v Commission, not yet reported. 

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Article  83(2)  of  the  Staff  Regulations  which  is  deducted  monthly  from  the  salary  of 
the person concerned. 

(13)  The entry into force of these new provisions should coincide with the entry into force 

of the Statute for Members of the European Parliament, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

Article 1 

The  Conditions  of  Employment  of  other  servants  of  the  European  Communities  are  hereby 
amended as set out in the Annex. 

Article 2 

Within three years of the entry into force of this Regulation, the European Parliament shall 
submit a report on the application of this Regulation in order to examine the possible need to 
adapt the rules applying to parliamentary assistants. 

This  Regulation  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  first  day  of  the  European  Parliament 
parliamentary term beginning in 2009. 

Article 3 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX  

The  Conditions  of  Employment  of  other  servants  of  the  European  Communities  are  hereby 
amended as follows: 

1) 

in Article 1, the following indent shall be inserted after “– special advisers”: 

“– parliamentary assistants,”. 

2) 

the following Article shall be inserted: 

“Article 5a 

For  the  purposes  of  these  Conditions  of  Employment,  “parliamentary  assistant”  means  staff 
chosen  by  one  or  more  Members  and  engaged  by  way  of  direct  contract  with  the  European 
Parliament  to  assist  one  or  more  Members  of  the  European  Parliament,  as  provided  for  in 
Article 125(1).”; 

Titles VII and VIII with Articles 125 to 127 become Titles VIII and IX with Articles 

3) 
141 to 143. A new Title VII shall be inserted: 

“Title VII 

Parliamentary assistants 

Chapter 1 

General provisions 

Article 125 

1. 
“Parliamentary  assistant”  means  a  member  of  staff  engaged  by  the  European 
Parliament  to  assist,  in  the  premises  of  the  European  Parliament  in  one  of  the  European 
Parliament’s three places of work, one or more Members in carrying out their parliamentary 
mandate.  He  shall  carry  out  tasks  which  are  directly  linked  to  the  work  of  the  European 
Parliament. 

The  Parliamentary  assistant  shall  be  engaged  to  perform  either  part-time  or  full-time  duties 
without being assigned to a post  included in the list of posts appended to the section of the 
budget relating to the European Parliament. 

By  internal  decision,  the  European  Parliament  shall  adopt  provisions  governing  the 

2. 
employment of parliamentary assistants. 

Parliamentary  assistants  shall  be  paid  from  the  total  appropriations  allocated  to  the 

3. 
section of the budget relating to the European Parliament. 

1. 

Parliamentary assistants shall be classified by grade. 

Article 126 

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Article  1e  of  the  Staff  Regulations,  on  measures  of  a  social  nature  and  working 

2. 
conditions, shall apply by analogy. 

Chapter 2 

Rights and obligations 

Article 127 

Articles 11 to 26a of the Staff Regulations shall apply by analogy. The European Parliament 
shall determine in an internal decision practical implementing measures that take account of 
the specific nature of the working relationship between Members and their assistants. 

Chapter 3 

Conditions of engagement 

Article 128 

1. 

Article 1d of the Staff Regulations shall apply by analogy. 

2. 
A  parliamentary  assistant  shall  be  selected  by  the  Member  or  Members  of  the 
European Parliament whom he is to assist. Without prejudice to any additional requirements 
which may be laid down in the provisions referred to in Article 125(2), the assistant may be 
engaged only on condition that he: 

(a) 

is  a  national  of  one  of  the  Member  States  of  the  Communities,  unless  an 
exception  is  authorised  by  the  authority  referred  to  in  the  first  paragraph  of 
Article 6, and enjoys his full rights as a citizen; 

(b)  has  fulfilled  any obligations imposed  on  him  by  the  laws concerning  military 

service; 

(c) 

produces  the  appropriate  character  references  as  to  his  suitability  for  the 
performance of his duties; 

(d) 

is physically fit to perform his duties; 

(e) 

produces  evidence  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  one  of  the  languages  of  the 
Community and appropriate knowledge of another Community language to the 
extent necessary for the duties he is called upon to perform and 

(f) 

has completed: 

(i) 

a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma, or 

(ii) 

a  level  of  secondary  education  attested  by  a  diploma  giving  access  to 
post-secondary  education,  and  appropriate  professional  experience  of  at 
least three years, or 

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(iii)  where  justified  in  the  interest  of  the  service,  professional  training  or 

professional experience of an equivalent level. 

Article 129 

1. 

A parliamentary assistant shall serve a probationary period of three months. 

2. 
Where  during  his  probationary  period  a  parliamentary  assistant  is  prevented  by 
sickness or accident from performing his duties for one month or more, the authority referred 
to in the first paragraph of Article 6 may, at the Member‘s request, extend his probationary 
period by the corresponding length of time. 

3. 
Not less than one month before the expiry of the probationary period, a report on his 
ability  to  perform  his  duties  and  also  on  his  conduct  and  efficiency  shall  be  made  by  the 
Member of the European Parliament if the work of the parliamentary assistant has not proved 
adequate to justify retention in his function. That report shall be communicated to the person 
concerned, who shall have the right to submit his comments in writing within a period of eight 
days,  by  the  authority  referred  to  in  the  first  paragraph  of  Article  6.  If  necessary,  the 
abovementioned parliamentary assistant shall be dismissed by the authority referred to in the 
first paragraph of Article 6, provided the report was communicated to him before the end of 
the probationary period.  

A parliamentary assistant dismissed during the probationary period shall be entitled to 

4. 
compensation equal to one third of his basic salary per month of probation completed. 

Article 130 

1. 
Before  being  engaged,  a  parliamentary  assistant  shall  provide  evidence  of  physical 
fitness  to  the  European  Parliament’s  medical  service  in  order  that  the  European  Parliament 
may be satisfied that he fulfils the requirements of Article 128 (2)(d). 

2. 
Where  a  negative  medical  opinion  is  given  as  a  result  of  the  medical  examination 
provided  for  in  paragraph  1,  the  candidate  may,  within  20  days  of  being  notified  of  this 
opinion  by  the  institution,  request  that  his  case  be  submitted  for  the  opinion  of  a  medical 
committee composed of three doctors chosen by the authority referred to in the first paragraph 
of Article 6 from among the institutions’ medical officers. The medical officer responsible for 
the initial negative opinion shall be heard by the medical committee. The candidate may refer 
the  opinion  of  a  doctor  of  his  choice  to  the  medical  committee.  Where  the  opinion  of  the 
medical  committee  confirms  the  conclusions  of  the  medical  examination  provided  for  in 
paragraph 1, the candidate shall pay 50% of the fees and of the incidental costs. 

Article 131 

The  contracts  of  parliamentary  assistants  shall  be  concluded  for  a  fixed  period. 
1. 
Without  prejudice  to  Article  140,  the  contracts  shall  expire  at  the  latest  by  the  end  of  the 
parliamentary term during which they were concluded. 

The  European  Parliament  shall  adopt  an  internal  decision  defining  the  criteria 

2. 
applicable to classification on engagement. 

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Where a parliamentary assistant concludes a new contract, a new decision concerning 

3. 
his grading shall be taken. 

Chapter 4 

Working conditions 

Article 132 

The weekly working hours of an assistant shall be set by the Member, but in normal 

1. 
circumstances may not exceed 42 hours per week. 

Assistants may not be required to work overtime except in the event of an emergency 

2. 
or exceptional workload. 

However,  overtime  worked  by  parliamentary  assistants  shall  carry  no  right  to 

3. 
compensation or remuneration. 

4. 
Articles 42a, 42b, 55a and 57 to 61 of the Staff Regulations (leave, hours of work and 
public  holidays)  and  Articles  16(2)  to  (4)  and  Article  18  of  the  present  Conditions  of 
employment shall apply by analogy. Special leave, parental leave and family leave shall not 
extend beyond the term of the contract. 

Chapter 5 

Remuneration and expenses 

Article 133 

Save  as  otherwise  provided  in  Articles  134  and  135,  Article  19,  Article  20(1)  to  (3)  and 
Article  21  of  these  Conditions  of  Employment  and  Article  16  of  Annex  VII  to  the  Staff 
Regulations  (remuneration  and  expenses)  shall  apply  by  analogy.  The  arrangements  for 
reimbursement  of  mission  expenses  shall  be  laid  down  in  the  provisions  referred  in  Article 
125 (2). 

Article 134 

The scale of basic salaries shall be as provided for in the following table: 

Grade 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

Full-time basic salary 

1 193,00 

1 389,85 

1 619,17 

1 886,33 

2 197,58 

2 560,18 

2 982,61 

Grade 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

Full-time basic salary 

3 474,74 

4 048,07 

4 716,00 

5 494,14 

6 400,67 

7 456,78 

8 687,15 

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By  way  of  derogation  from  the  last  subparagraph  of  Article  4(1)  of  Annex  VII  to  the  Staff 
Regulations, the expatriation allowance shall not be less than EUR 250. 

Article 135 

Chapter 6 

Social security benefits 

Article 136 

Save as otherwise provided in Article 137, Articles 95 to 115 (social security) shall apply by 
analogy. 

Article 137 

1. 
By  way  of  derogation  from  the  second  subparagraph  of  Article  96(3)  and  without 
prejudice to the other provisions of that Article, the amounts calculated under that provision 
may neither be less than EUR 700 nor exceed EUR 2000. 

2. 
By  way  of  derogation  from  Articles  77  and  80  of  the  Staff  Regulations  and  Articles 
101  and  105  of  the  present  Conditions  of  employment,  the  minimum  amounts  used  for  the 
purpose of calculating pension and invalidity benefits shall correspond to the basic salary of a 
parliamentary assistant in grade 1. 

3. 
The European Parliament shall pay into the general budget of the European Union the 
entire amount of the contributions needed to finance the pension scheme with the exception of 
the contribution under Article 83(2) of the Staff Regulations which is deducted monthly from 
the salary of the person concerned. 

Article  112  shall  only  apply  to  contracts  concluded  for  a  period  not  exceeding  one 

4. 
year. 

Chapter 7 

Recovery of undue payment 

Article 138 

The provisions of Article 85 of the Staff Regulations on the recovery of undue payment shall 
apply. 

Chapter 8 

Appeals 

Article 139 

The provisions of Title VII of the Staff Regulations on appeals shall apply by analogy. 

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Chapter 9 

Termination of employment 

Article 140 

Apart  from  cessation  on  death,  the  employment  of  the  parliamentary  assistant  shall 

1. 
cease: 

(a) 

on the date stated in the contract as provided for in Article 131(1);  

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

at the end of the month in which the parliamentary assistant reaches the age of 
65; 

in the case of an assistant engaged to assist only one Member of the European 
Parliament  pursuant  to  Article  128(2),  at  the  end  of  the  month  in  which  that 
Member’s term of office ends, whether by death or resignation or for any other 
reason; 

at the end of the period of notice specified in the contract, which shall give the 
parliamentary assistant or the European Parliament the option to terminate the 
contract before its expiry. The period of notice shall not be less than one month 
per  year  of  service,  subject  to  a  minimum  of  one  month  and  a  maximum  of 
three  months.  The  period  of  notice  shall  not,  however,  start  to  run  during 
maternity leave or sick leave, provided such sick leave does not exceed three 
months. It shall, moreover, be suspended during maternity or sick leave subject 
to these limits. 

(e)  where the parliamentary assistant no longer satisfies the conditions laid down 
in  Article  128(2)(a),  subject  to  any  authorisation  of  an  exception  pursuant  to 
that  provision.  Should  an  exception  not  be  authorised,  the  period  of  notice 
referred to in point (d) shall apply. 

2. 
Where  the  contract  ceases  pursuant  to  paragraph  1(c)  or  the  European  Parliament 
terminates the contract pursuant to paragraph 1(d), the parliamentary assistant shall be entitled 
to compensation equal to one third of his basic salary for the period between the date when his 
duties  end  and  the  date  when  his  contract  expires,  subject  however  to  a  maximum  of  three 
months’ basic salary. 

3. 
Without  prejudice  to  Articles  48  and  50  which  are  applicable  by  analogy,  the 
employment of a parliamentary assistant may be terminated without notice in serious cases of 
failure to comply with his obligations, whether intentionally or through negligence on his part. 
A reasoned decision shall be taken by the authority referred to in the first paragraph of Article 
6, after the person concerned has had an opportunity of submitting his defence.”. 

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LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 

1. 

NAME OF THE PROPOSAL: 

Council  regulation  amending  the  Conditions  of  Employment  of  Other  Servants  of  the 
European  Communities  (creation  of  a  new  category  of  staff,  parliamentary  assistants 
accredited in one of the European Parliament’s three official places of work). 

2. 

BUDGET LINES 

2.1. 

Budget headings, including their titles: 

Chapter 12 – Officials and temporary staff 

Chapter 16 – Other expenditure relating to persons working with the institution 

Chapter 20 – Buildings and associated costs 

Chapter  21  –  Data  processing,  equipment  and  movable  property:  purchasing,  rental  and 
maintenance 

Chapter 23 – Current administrative expenditure 

Item 3220 – Documentation and library expenditure 

Item 4200 – Parliamentary assistants 

Item 4220 – Parliamentary assistance 

2.2. 

Duration of the action and the financial impact: 

The action is open-ended. It will take effect from the start of the EP’s next parliamentary term 
in July 2009. 

The  financial  impact  of  the  procedure  will  take  two  forms:  firstly,  costs  directly  linked  to 
parliamentary assistants accredited in one of Parliament’s three official places of work, and, 
secondly,  administrative  expenditure  generated  by  the  management  of  parliamentary 
assistants  covered  by  the  Conditions  of  Employment  of  Other  Servants  of  the  European 
Communities (hereinafter ‘CEOS’). 

(1) Expenditure 

(a) Expenditure directly linked to parliamentary assistants:  

This aspect of the proposal is neutral in budgetary terms. 

Salary-related  costs  and  mission  expenses  will  be  entirely  covered  by  being  charged  to  the 
individual budget available to each Member. In 2009, the additional appropriations required 
against Item 4220 will be taken from Item 4220. 

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The volume of non-salary-related costs will not change by comparison with the costs already 
covered under various headings of Parliament’s budget. 

(b) Expenditure linked to staff assigned to manage the action (15 additional posts): 

The  work  of  managing  parliamentary  assistants  will  create  the  need  for  additional  human 
resources which should be dealt with in the budget procedure. 

(2) Revenue 

The  payment  in  accordance  with  the  Staff  Regulations  of  salaries  and  allowances  both  to 
parliamentary assistants and the additional staff required to manage the action will generate 
revenue for the Community budget by virtue of the Community tax, the special levy and the 
pension contributions payable on the salaries and allowances. 

2.3. 

Budgetary characteristics: 

Budget 
heading 

Type of 
expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contribution 
from applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
FP 

See point 2.1. 

NCE  NDA 

NO 

NO 

NO 

5 

3. 

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES 

3.1. 

Financial resources 

3.1.1.  Operating expenditure 

The proposal will not generate operating expenditure. 

3.1.2. Administrative expenditure – see details under points 7.2.4. and 7.2.5. 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

2009 

2010

2011

2012

2013 

2014 

Total 

55.701 

111.401 

111.401 

111.401 

111.401 

111.401 

612.706 

17.998 

35.995 

35.995 

35.995 

35.995 

35.995 

197.973 

73.699 

147.396  147.396  147.396  147.396  147.396 

810.679 

Nature of the 
expenditure 
Cost of human 
resources and related 
expenditure  
Other administrative 
expenditure 
TOTAL CA/PA 
including costs of 
human resources 

3.1.3.  Compatibility with financial programming 

⌧  Proposal compatible with existing financial programming. 

(cid:133) 

Proposal  will  necessitate  a  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the 
Financial Perspective. 

EN 

15 

   EN 

 
 
 
(cid:133) 

This proposal may entail application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional 
Agreement8  (concerning  the  flexibility  instrument  or  the  revision  of  the 
Financial Perspective). 

3.1.4.  Financial impact on revenue 

(cid:133)  No financial implications 

⌧  Financial impact - The effect on revenue is as follows: 

Payments by parliamentary assistants and by staff assigned to manage the action in the form 
of the Community tax, the special levy and contributions to the Community pension scheme 
in accordance with the provisions of the Staff Regulations and of the CEOS, and payment by 
Parliament,  on  behalf  of  parliamentary  assistants,  of  the  employer's  contribution  to  the 
Community pension scheme.  

EUR million (to one decimal place) 

Prior to 
2008 

Situation following action 

Budget heading  

Revenue 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

400 (EP) 

404 (EP) 

Community tax 

Special levy 

410 (EP) 

Pension contributions 

422 new (COM) 

Employer's contribution to 
parliamentary assistants' 
pensions 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2.7 

5.4 

5.4 

5.4 

5.4 

5.4 

0.3 

0.5 

0.5 

0.5 

0.5 

0.5 

3.7 

7.3 

7.3 

7.3 

7.3 

7.3 

7.2 

14.4 

14.4 

14.4 

14.4 

14.4 

(a) Revenue in absolute terms 0 

13.9  27.6  27.6  27.6  27.6  27.6 

(b) Change in revenue 

 ∆ 

13.9  27.6  27.6  27.6  27.6  27.6 

3.2. 

Human Resources FTE – see details under point 7.2.1. 

Annual requirements 
Total number of 
human resources  

2009 

1438 

2010 

1438 

2011 

1438 

2012 

1438 

2013 

1438 

2014 

1438 

4. 

CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES 

4.1. 

Implementation required in the short or long term 

Hitherto,  parliamentary  assistants  accredited  in  one  of  Parliament's  three  official  places  of 
work  have  been  covered  by  various  employment  arrangements  which  have  given  rise  to 

8 

See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional Agreement. 

EN 

16 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
disparities  in  terms  of  remuneration,  social  security  and  sickness  cover,  pension  rights  etc. 
The action described here seeks to integrate those parliamentary assistants into the CEOS by 
creating a specific category of staff.  

4.2. 

Added value of the Community involvement 

Community  involvement  is  essential,  since  only  the  European  institutions  are  legally 
empowered to integrate parliamentary assistants into the CEOS.  

4.3. 

Objectives, expected results and related indicators of the proposal in the context 
of activity-based management (ABM) 

The  proposed  action  seeks  to  create  uniform  conditions  of  employment  for 
parliamentary assistants. 

4.4.  Methods of implementation (indicative) 

⌧  Centralised management 

⌧ 

directly by Parliament 

(cid:133) 

indirectly by delegation to: 

(cid:133) 

executive agencies, 

(cid:133) 

bodies set up by the Communities, as referred to in Article 185 of 
the Financial Regulation, 

(cid:133) 

national public sector bodies/bodies with public-service mission. 

(cid:133) 

Shared or decentralised management 

(cid:133)  with Member States 

(cid:133)  with third countries 

(cid:133) 

Joint management with international organisations (please specify) 

5. 

MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

5.1.  Monitoring system 

Expenditure will be monitored by the relevant Parliament departments. 

6. 

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES 

Measures  to  ensure  sound  financial  management  and  regular  ex-post  checks  will  be  carried 
out. 

EN 

17 

   EN 

 
7. 

DETAILS OF RESOURCES 

7.1. 

Objectives of the proposal in terms of costs 

The proposal seeks to integrate parliamentary assistants into the CEOS in order to guarantee 
uniform working conditions for all staff performing the duties in question.  

7.2. 

Administrative expenditure 

7.2.1. Number and type of human resources 

Types of post 

Staff to be assigned to manage the action using existing and/or 
additional resources (number of posts/FTEs) 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Officials or temporary 
staff (Chapter 12) 

AD 

AST 

3 

12 

3 

12 

3 

12 

3 

12 

3 

12 

3 

12 

Parliamentary assistants (Item 
4200) 

1423 

1423 

1423 

1423 

1423 

1423 

TOTAL 

1438 

1438 

1438 

1438 

1438 

1438 

7.2.2. Description of tasks deriving from the action 

Administrative management of parliamentary assistants 

Assistance to Members 

7.2.3. Sources of human resources (under Staff Regulations) 

Posts  currently  allocated  to  the  management  of  the  programme  to  be  replaced  or 

(cid:133) 
extended 

(cid:133) 

⌧ 

Posts pre-allocated within the APS/PDB exercise for year n 

Posts requested as part of the 2009 budget procedure – 15 posts 

Posts to be redeployed using existing resources within the managing service (internal 

⌧ 
redeployment) – 1423 posts 

Posts required for year n but not provided for in the APS/PDB exercise for the year in 

(cid:133) 
question 

EN 

18 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
7.2.4. Cost of human resources and associated costs 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

Type of human resources 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

Officials and temporary staff (Chapter 
12) 

0.340 

0.680 

0.680 

0.680 

0.680 

0.680 

Parliamentary assistants (Item 4200) 

55.361 

110.721 

110.721 

110.721 

110.721 

110.721 

Total cost of human resources and 
associated costs 

55.701 

111.401  111.401  111.401  111.401  111.401 

OFFICIALS AND TEMPORARY STAFF (CALCULATION METHOD) 

Calculation  of  indicative  average  on  the  basis  of  three  AD  5  and  12  AST  1.  The  amounts 
incorporate  salaries,  allowances  and  normal  employer's  contributions  for  this  type  of  staff 
under the Staff Regulations.  

The requisite appropriations and posts will have to be incorporated into the budget procedure.  

PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANTS (CALCULATION METHOD) 

Calculation of indicative average 

–  for  1423  assistants  (extrapolation  from  the  current  situation  for  the  future  figure  of  736 
Members) 

– salaries and family allowances based on specific remuneration arrangements as outlined in 
the proposal 

–  expatriation  and  foreign-residence  allowances  in  accordance  with  the  CEOS,  with  the 
exception of the triggering threshold provided for in the proposal 

–  employer's  contributions  to  sickness,  accident  and  unemployment  insurance  schemes  in 
accordance with the CEOS 

– (flat-rate) mission expenses 

– real employer's contribution to the pension scheme for parliamentary assistants 

The breakdown for each grade is an approximate extrapolation from the current situation:  

– grade 1: 5.18%, i.e. 73.71 assistants 

– grade 2: 2.16%, i.e. 30.74 assistants 

– grade 3: 1.59%, i.e. 22.63 assistants 

– grade 4: 2.74%, i.e. 38.99 assistants 

EN 

19 

   EN 

 
 
 
– grade 5: 6.49%, i.e. 92.35 assistants 

– grade 6: 5.04%, i.e. 71.72 assistants 

– grade 7: 10.09%, i.e. 143.58 assistants 

– grade 8: 9.51%, i.e. 135.33 assistants 

– grade 9: 13.69%, i.e. 194.81 assistants 

– grade 10: 11.96%, i.e. 170.19 assistants 

– grade 11: 18.87%, i.e. 268.52 assistants 

– grade 12: 8.9%, i.e. 125.08 assistants 

– grade 13: 1.87%, i.e. 26.61 assistants 

– grade 14: 2.02%, i.e. 28.74 assistants 

The corresponding appropriations are already covered by existing resources. 

7.2.5. Cost of human resources and associated costs 

EUR million (to three decimal places) 

2009 

2010 

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

TOTAL 

0.210 

0.420 

0.420 

0.420 

0.420 

0.420 

2.310 

17.788 

35.575 

35.575 

35.575 

35.575 

35.575 

195.663 

administrative 

Other 
administrative 
(Chapters 12, 16, 21, 23) 

management 

expenditure 

- 
staff 

administrative 

Other 
- 
parliamentary  assistants,  (Chapters 
12, 16, 21, 23; Item 4200) 

expenditure 

Total  administrative  expenditure 
other  than  human  resources  and 
associated costs  

17.998

35.995

35.995

35.995

35.995  35.995  197.973 

OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS (CALCULATION METHOD) 

The  calculation  is  based  on  an  average  cost  which  takes  into  account  the  other 
staff/administrative expenditure and operating and infrastructure costs. 

The  average  cost  is  roughly  EUR  28  000/year  for  the  administrative  management  staff  and 
roughly EUR 25 000/year for the parliamentary assistants. 

As  regards  the  parliamentary  assistants,  the  relevant  appropriations  have  already  been 
included  in  Parliament's  budget  in  order  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  existing  accredited 
assistants,  in  keeping  with  the  rules  currently  in  force.  As  regards  the  administrative 
management  staff,  the  requisite  appropriations  will  have  to  be  incorporated  in  the  budget 
procedure. 

EN 

20 

   EN