REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION on the use of contract staff in 2014
Date: 2016-08-09
Institutions: Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security, European Commission
Subjects: EU statistics, contract staff, employment statistics, servant (EU), staff regulations (EU)

EN 

   EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 9.8.2016  COM(2016) 499 final   REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION on the use of contract staff in 2014  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Trend in contract staff numbers in the Commission since 2004 .................................. 4 

Breakdown of Commission contract staff by gender and by function group .............. 6 

Breakdown of Commission contract staff by nationality ............................................. 7 

Breakdown of Commission contract staff by DG ...................................................... 14 

5.1. 

Breakdown by gender and by DG .............................................................................. 15 

5.2.1 

3a contract staff .......................................................................................................... 16 

5.2.2 

3b auxiliary contract staff ........................................................................................... 17 

6. 

6.1. 

Breakdown of contract staff in the other institutions and agencies ........................... 18 

Breakdown of contract staff in the other institutions ................................................. 19 

6.1.1  Breakdown by gender and by function group in the other institutions ...................... 20 

6.1.2  Breakdown by nationality in the other institutions .................................................... 20 

6.2. 

Breakdown of contract staff in the agencies .............................................................. 21 

6.2.1  Breakdown by gender and by function group in the agencies ................................... 22 

6.2.2  Breakdown by nationality in the agencies ................................................................. 24 

2 

 
 
 
 
1. 

INTRODUCTION 

This report fulfils the obligation arising from Article 79(3) of the Conditions of Employment of Other 
Servants of the European Union (CEOS), which provides that ‘the Commission shall provide a yearly 
report  on  the  use  of  contract  staff  including  numbers  of  staff,  level  and  type  of  posts,  geographical 
balance and budgetary resources per function group’. It offers a detailed snapshot of the contract staff 
employed at 31 December 2014. 

The  budgetary  data  (sent  each  year  with  the  draft  budget  to  the  Budgetary  Authority  -  Working 
Document, parts II and III) show contract staff numbers at the time when the draft budget is presented 
(including contract staff recruited using assigned revenue), i.e.: a statement of the position at 1 April of 
year N-1 (where N is the year of the draft budget), budgetary implementation in year N-2 and requests 
for  appropriations  with  estimates  of  full-time  equivalents  (FTE)  for  year  N.  That  is  why  there  are 
sometimes differences in the number of contract staff, depending on the data source. 

This  report  includes  data  for  all  the  European  institutions  (including  the  European  External  Action 
Service  (EEAS),  in  operation  since  1 January  2011)  and  agencies  as  defined  in  Article  1(a)  of  the 
Staff Regulations.  The  data  for  the  Commission  are  more  detailed  and  include  staff  financed  from 
operational  and  research 
in  administrative  offices,  delegations, 
representations and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). 

lines,  plus  staff  working 

Article  80  of  the  CEOS  establishes  a  link  between  each  function  group  (FG)  and  the  duties  that 
contract staff may perform: 

Function 
group 

Grade 

Tasks 

IV 

13 to 18 

Administrative, advisory, linguistic and equivalent technical tasks, 
performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff 

III 

8 to 12 

Executive tasks, drafting, accountancy and other equivalent technical tasks, 
performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff 

II 

I 

4 to 7 

Clerical and secretarial tasks, office management and other equivalent 
tasks, performed under the supervision of officials or temporary staff 

1 to 3 

Manual and administrative support service tasks, performed under the 
supervision of officials or temporary staff. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
The category of contract staff was created in 2004 as part of the reform of the Staff Regulations. Since 
then  contract  staff  have  made  a  useful  contribution  to  the  work  of  the  institutions  by  carrying  out 
administrative  support  activities  at  a  lower  cost  and  by  bringing  in  skills  which  were  not  always 
available within the institution. 

This is particularly true of FG I staff, who have replaced Category D officials since 2004. Since then 
no competitions have been organised to recruit officials for work as messengers or drivers or for any 
other typical FGI duties (except for the Parliament).  

2. 

TREND IN CONTRACT STAFF NUMBERS IN THE COMMISSION SINCE 2004 

At the end of 2014, the total number of contract staff across all the institutions and agencies stood at 
some 11 100. About 58 % of them are employed by the Commission, against 60 % in 2012. Given that 
the number of contract staff at the Commission remained relatively stable until 2013, followed by an 
increase  in  2014,  this  relative  drop  in  the  share  of  Commission  contract  staff  is  attributable  to  the 
increased numbers in other institutions and agencies. 

The breakdown between institutions and agencies is examined later in this report. 

The trend within the Commission since 2004 is as follows1: 

Table 1 

7000

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

The  rise  in  contract  staff  numbers  at  the  Commission,  which  stood  at  around  6 400  in  2014,  is 
attributable in part to the gradual replacement of auxiliary staff (who numbered nearly 3 000 in 2003) 
by auxiliary contract staff (Article 3b of the CEOS), to the replacement of the former Category D by 
contract  staff  (Article  3a  of  the  CEOS)  and  to  the  conversion  of  permanent  official  posts  into 

1 Source: Commission HR analytics platform 

4 

Year20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014Staff5142787496654945756601859795977592158076440 
 
 
 
                                                            
appropriations  for  contract  staff  in  the  administrative  offices.  Contract  staff  were  also  taken  on  as 
temporary replacements for permanent staff, as provided for in Article 3b of the CEOS. 

Contract staff numbers grew each year up to 2009 before dipping slightly in 2010. This reduction is 
largely explained by the delay in obtaining the results of the new CAST selection procedures in 2010. 

The Commission's figures appeared to show a stabilisation in 2011, but this is in fact the result of two 
contrasting events. On the one hand, the creation of the EEAS led to the transfer of 277 contract staff 
from the Commission’s staff (working for DG RELEX in delegations and at headquarters), while on 
the other, the Commission recruited 275 contract staff between 2010 and 2011. Without the departure 
of  contract  staff  to  the  EEAS,  there  would  have  been  a  4.6 %  increase  between  2010  and  2011, 
matching the average rate of increase recorded in 2008 and 2009. 

In 2012 and 2013 the number of contract staff fell slightly (-1 % and -2 % respectively), mainly as a 
result of overall staff reductions and the fact that new staff regulations were due to come into force in 
January 2014. 

The issuing of a call for expressions of interest (CEI) addressed to 3b contract staff in September 2013 
created a pool of new candidates for the Directorates-General (hereinafter DGs)2. Given the timescales 
for selection and recruitment, the real impact of this CEI was felt above all in 2014.  

Furthermore, the entry into force of the new Staff Regulations on 1 January 2014 extended the term of 
employment of 3b contract staff to a maximum of six years. This means that many contract staff who 
had already completed 3 years of service and were continuing to work for the Commission as agency 
staff have been able to be rehired for a further contractual period, allowing the Commission to benefit 
from contract staff who are already trained and operational immediately, while reducing the number of 
agency staff3. 

2  In  2013  it  was  difficult  for  the  DGs  to  use  the  databases  of  existing  candidates  and  there  was  a  shortage 
affecting some profiles. 
3 In particular, the number of agency staff fell from 415 on 1 July 2013 to 188 on 1 July 2014. 

5 

 
 
 
 
                                                            
3. 

BREAKDOWN  OF  COMMISSION  CONTRACT  STAFF  BY  GENDER  AND  BY  FUNCTION 
GROUP 

The breakdown of contract staff by FG is shown in the table below. 

Breakdown by gender and by function group in 20144 

Table 2 

1 000

 900

 800

 700

 600

 500

 400

 300

 200

 100

 0

M

F

4 Source: Commission HR analytics platform 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
At  31  December  2014,  6 440  contract  staff  were  serving  in  the  Commission.  The  largest  function 
group is FG II, accounting for almost 40 % of contract staff in 2014 - an increase on previous years. 
Staff  in  this  group  carry  out  secretarial  or  similar  duties,  while  others  are  responsible  for  childcare. 
Next come contract staff in FG IV and FG III. 

Overall,  the  balance  between  men  and  women  has  remained  stable:  women  made  up  62.8 %  of  all 
contract staff in 2013, against 63.4 % in 2014. 

Gender balance was almost achieved in FG IV in 2014. The gender breakdown in the other FGs has 
remained  stable  since  2011.  We  find  a  much  larger  proportion  of  women  in FG II  (83.5 %  in  2014) 
and, to a lesser extent, in FG III (59.8 % in 2014). In FG I, in contrast, men predominate (63.5 % in 
2014). 

This reflects the traditional breakdown by type of duties performed: FG IIs are mainly secretaries or 
childcare workers, while the majority of FG Is work as messengers or drivers. 

4. 

BREAKDOWN OF COMMISSION CONTRACT STAFF BY NATIONALITY 

The  nationalities  best  represented  among  the  contract  staff  were,  in  descending  order,  Belgians, 
Italians, French, Spaniards and Romanians, followed by Poles and Greeks. The representation of the 
first  four  nationalities  has  been  the  same  since  2005.  The  UK  and  Germany,  like  Poland  and  the 

7 

TOTAL% 4163.1% 2436.9% 653.4% 7266.1% 3733.9% 1095.7% 16958.9% 11841.1% 28715.0% 30950.6% 30249.4% 61132.0% 28341.0% 40859.0% 69136.2% 6544.5% 8155.5% 1467.6%FGIV 93949.2% 97050.8%1 90929.6% 1655.2% 1344.8% 292.5% 4948.0% 5352.0% 1028.8% 11943.0% 15857.0% 27724.0% 18937.6% 31462.4% 50343.6% 9137.4% 15262.6% 24321.1%FGIII 46440.2% 69059.8%1 15417.9% 1614.7% 9385.3% 1094.3% 9814.0% 60186.0% 69927.6% 20317.7% 94182.3%1 14445.2% 10117.4% 48082.6% 58122.9%FGII 41816.5%2 11583.5%2 53339.3% 5263.4% 3036.6% 829.7% 39763.5% 22836.5% 62574.1% 8763.5% 5036.5% 13716.2%FGI 53663.5% 30836.5% 84413.1%2 35736.6%4 08363.4%6 440100.0%2014MFFGIVFGIV18FGIV17FGIV16FGIV15FGIV14FGIV13FGIIIFGIII12FGIII11FGIII10FGIII09FGIII08FGIIFGII07FGII06FGII05FGII04TOTALFGIFGI03FGI02FGI01 
 
 
Netherlands,  are  rather  under-represented  in  relation  to  their  population.  Conversely,  Belgium  and 
Italy have a high representation in relation to their population. 

Following the accession of Croatia to the European Union on 1 July 2013, 59 Croatian contract staff 
worked at the Commission at 31 December 2014. 

8 

 
 
 
 
Breakdown of Commission contract staff by nationality and by gender in 20145 

Table 3 

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

E
B

T
I

R
F

S
E

O
R

L
E

L
P

E
D

T
P

G
B

K
U

U
H

K
S

L
N

I

T F
L

R
H

T
A

E
S

l

V S
L

Z
C

E
I

K
D

E
E

Y
C

T
M

U
L

M

F

5 Source: Commission HR analytics platform 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
The breakdown of Commission contract staff by nationality is influenced by a combination of factors, 
including the location of the European institutions and duration of the proposed contracts. 

As most recruitments are for a limited duration, candidates are more likely to accept a post if they are 
resident at or near the site of the institution offering them a job. On the other hand, it can be hard for 
candidates  with  families  to  leave  their  countries  of  origin  and  set  up  home  at  the  institution’s 
headquarters for what is a relatively short period of time. 

Contract  staff  are  recruited  to  the  Commission  on  the  basis  of  Article 3b  of  the  CEOS  for  an  initial 
period  of  one  year,  followed  by  a  two-year  extension.  Following  the  entry  into  force  of  the  new 
Staff Regulations in 2014, the duration of these contracts is now set at a maximum of six years.  

This  role  played  by  geographical  proximity  is  also  reflected  in  the  composition  of  the  lists  of 
candidates  that  the  Commission  can  draw  on.  We  should  stress,  however,  that  there  is  no  quota  per 
nationality: recruitment is carried out on the basis of the required profile and the applicants' abilities 
and language knowledge. 

The same trend of linkage to the place of residence is apparent in the table showing the breakdown by 
nationality in the other institutions and agencies. 

10 

2014TOTAL%AT2240,7%3259,3%540,8%BE45133,8%88266,2%1.33320,7%BG4725,3%13974,7%1862,9%CY1040,0%1560,0%250,4%CZ1025,0%3075,0%400,6%DE9344,5%11655,5%2093,2%DK1341,9%1858,1%310,5%EE724,1%2275,9%290,5%EL13043,5%16956,5%2994,6%ES22437,0%38163,0%6059,4%FI1625,0%4875,0%641,0%FR33541,4%47458,6%80912,6%HR1932,2%4067,8%590,9%HU2925,7%8474,3%1131,8%IE1129,7%2670,3%370,6%IT53944,7%66655,3%1.20518,7%LT2538,5%4061,5%651,0%LU240,0%360,0%50,1%LV1328,9%3271,1%450,7%MT325,0%975,0%120,2%NL3450,7%3349,3%671,0%PL4818,6%21081,4%2584,0%PT7135,7%12864,3%1993,1%RO9223,1%30676,9%3986,2%SE1631,4%3568,6%510,8%SK2129,2%5170,8%721,1%Sl1023,3%3376,7%430,7%UK6050,0%6050,0%1201,9%Other685,7%114,3%70,1%TOTAL2.35757,7%4.08363,4%6.440100,0%MF 
 
 
 
 
 
Breakdown of contract staff by gender and by function group6 

These  tables  give  an  analytical  breakdown  by  FG,  nationality  and  gender.  In  2014,  as  in  previous 
years, all Member States are represented in FG IV and FG II. However there are no Luxembourgers in 
FG III and no Austrians in FG I.  

Table 4 

FGIV 

6 Source: Commission HR analytics platform 

11 

2014TOTAL%AUT1644,40%2055,60%361,90%BEL11158,40%7941,60%19010,00%BGR2131,80%4568,20%663,50%CYP550,00%550,00%100,50%CZE545,50%654,50%110,60%DEU6250,40%6149,60%1236,40%DNK753,80%646,20%130,70%ESP9948,80%10451,20%20310,60%EST545,50%654,50%110,60%FIN931,00%2069,00%291,50%FRA17954,90%14745,10%32617,10%GBR3866,70%1933,30%573,00%GRC3042,30%4157,70%713,70%HRV1442,40%1957,60%331,70%HUN1747,20%1952,80%361,90%IRL325,00%975,00%120,60%ITA20153,30%17646,70%37719,70%LTU857,10%642,90%140,70%LUX00,0%2100,00%20,10%LVA111,10%888,90%90,50%MLT350,00%350,00%60,30%NLD2163,60%1236,40%331,70%POL1120,80%4279,20%532,80%PRT2139,60%3260,40%532,80%ROU2436,90%4163,10%653,40%SVK1248,00%1352,00%251,30%SVN317,60%1482,40%170,90%SWE1040,00%1560,00%251,30%Other3100,00%00,0%30,20%TOTAL93949,20%97050,80%1 909100,00%MF 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
FGIII 

12 

2014TOTAL%AUT 555,6% 444,4% 90,8%BEL 6843,9% 8756,1% 15513,4%BGR 1331,0% 2969,0% 423,6%CYP 250,0% 250,0% 40,3%CZE 228,6% 571,4% 70,6%DEU 1840,9% 2659,1% 443,8%DNK 457,1% 342,9% 70,6%ESP 4135,7% 7464,3% 11510,0%EST 120,0% 480,0% 50,4%FIN 337,5% 562,5% 80,7%FRA 5844,6% 7255,4% 13011,3%GBR 1043,5% 1356,5% 232,0%GRC 3848,1% 4151,9% 796,8%HRV 433,3% 866,7% 121,0%HUN 523,8% 1676,2% 211,8%IRL 240,0% 360,0% 50,4%ITA 10144,7% 12555,3% 22619,6%LTU 1052,6% 947,4% 191,6%LUX 00,0% 00,0% 00,0%LVA 646,2% 753,8% 131,1%MLT 00,0% 1100,0% 10,1%NLD 450,0% 450,0% 80,7%POL 1122,9% 3777,1% 484,2%PRT 1445,2% 1754,8% 312,7%ROU 2928,7% 7271,3% 1018,8%SVK 535,7% 964,3% 141,2%SVN 440,0% 660,0% 100,9%SWE 531,3% 1168,8% 161,4%Other 1100,0% 00,0% 10,1%TOTAL 46440,2% 69059,8%1 154100,0%MF 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FGII 

13 

2014TOTAL%AUT 111,1% 888,9% 90,4%BEL 7611,2% 60188,8% 67726,7%BGR 1114,5% 6585,5% 763,0%CYP 220,0% 880,0% 100,4%CZE 210,0% 1890,0% 200,8%DEU 924,3% 2875,7% 371,5%DNK 111,1% 888,9% 90,4%ESP 3616,9% 17783,1% 2138,4%EST 00,0% 11100,0% 110,4%FIN 14,3% 2295,7% 230,9%FRA 4817,5% 22782,5% 27510,9%GBR 724,1% 2275,9% 291,1%GRC 3633,3% 7266,7% 1084,3%HRV 00,0% 13100,0% 130,5%HUN 47,7% 4892,3% 522,1%IRL 213,3% 1386,7% 150,6%ITA 8622,1% 30377,9% 38915,4%LTU 619,4% 2580,6% 311,2%LUX 00,0% 1100,0% 10,04%LVA 419,0% 1781,0% 210,8%MLT 00,0% 4100,0% 40,2%NLD 627,3% 1672,7% 220,9%POL 2317,4% 10982,6% 1325,2%PRT 1519,5% 6280,5% 773,0%ROU 3616,2% 18683,8% 2228,8%SVK 26,5% 2993,5% 311,2%SVN 17,1% 1392,9% 140,6%SWE 111,1% 888,9% 90,4%Other 266,7% 133,3% 30,1%TOTAL 41816,5%2 11583,5%2 533100,0%MF 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FGI 

5. 

BREAKDOWN OF COMMISSION CONTRACT STAFF BY DG 

In  the  following  section  the  data  on  contract  staff  have  been  broken  down  by  DG.  There  are 
differences between the DGs, largely because of the different nature of their work. DG DEVCO, for 
example,  employs  mostly  FG IVs  responsible  for  aid  and  international  cooperation  or  working  as 
programme  managers  both  at  headquarters  and  in  the  delegations,  while  the  OIB  employs  mostly 
administrative assistants and childcare workers in FG II. 

The appropriations allocated for the policy of replacing absent staff allow for a continuity of service 
that would not be as satisfactory without such temporary replacements. 

14 

2014TOTAL%AUT 00,0% 00,0%00,0%BEL 19663,0% 11537,0%31136,8%BGR 2100,0% 00,0%20,2%CYP 1100,0% 00,0%10,1%CZE 150,0% 150,0%20,2%DEU 480,0% 120,0%50,6%DNK 150,0% 150,0%20,2%ESP 4864,9% 2635,1%748,8%EST 150,0% 150,0%20,2%FIN 375,0% 125,0%40,5%FRA 5064,1% 2835,9%789,2%GBR 545,5% 654,5%111,3%GRC 2663,4% 1536,6%414,9%HRV 1100,0% 00,0%10,1%HUN 375,0% 125,0%40,5%IRL 480,0% 120,0%50,6%ITA 15170,9% 6229,1%21325,2%LTU 1100,0% 00,0%10,1%LUX 2100,0% 00,0%20,2%LVA 2100,0% 00,0%20,2%MLT 00,0% 1100,0%10,1%NLD 375,0% 125,0%40,5%POL 312,0% 2288,0%253,0%PRT 2155,3% 1744,7%384,5%ROU 330,0% 770,0%101,2%SVK 2100,0% 00,0%20,2%SVN 2100,0% 00,0%20,2%SWE 00,0% 1100,0%10,1%Other 00,0% 00,0%00,0%TOTAL 53663,5% 30836,5%844100,0%MF 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.1. 

Breakdown by gender and by DG7 

Table 5 

7 Source: Commission HR analytics platform 

15 

FGIVFG-I/II/IIIMFTOTALMFTOTALSG 2 1 3 24 28 52 55SJ 2 2 4 3 17 20 24COMM 11 32 43 97 226 323 366EPSC 0 2 2 0 4 4 6ECFIN 4 9 13 10 23 33 46GROW 27 17 44 21 72 93 137COMP 8 7 15 20 25 45 60EMPL 5 11 16 29 75 104 120AGRI 14 22 36 24 40 64 100MOVE 3 7 10 16 47 63 73ENER 5 7 12 10 35 45 57ENV 3 9 12 7 39 46 58CLIMA 3 2 5 1 13 14 19CNECT 29 33 62 45 143 188 250RTD 64 78 142 118 228 346 488JRC 136 93 229 124 232 356 585MARE 14 12 26 9 28 37 63FISMA 2 1 3 12 42 54 57REGIO 4 9 13 25 61 86 99TAXUD 1 1 2 2 12 14 16EAC 4 6 10 23 25 48 58SANTE 9 25 34 24 67 91 125HOME 2 2 4 5 14 19 23JUST 1 6 7 9 21 30 37FPI 22 27 49 13 24 37 86TRADE 5 3 8 8 31 39 47NEAR 88 79 167 29 59 88 255DEVCO 417 372 789 90 203 2931 082ECHO 4 3 7 11 43 54 61ESTAT 12 16 28 26 46 72 100HR 2 4 6 48 81 129 135DIGIT 5 0 5 5 19 24 29BUDG 2 1 3 11 34 45 48IAS 0 1 1 4 6 10 11OLAF 3 0 3 10 21 31 34SCIC 0 0 0 27 30 57 57DGT 22 53 75 22 40 62 137OP 0 0 0 8 13 21 21OIB 3 16 19 237 520 757 776PMO 0 1 1 124 282 406 407OIL 1 0 1 78 115 193 194EPSO 0 0 0 9 18 27 27CdP-OSP 0 0 0 0 11 11 11TOTAL 939 9701 9091 4183 1134 5316 4402014FGIVFG-I/II/IIITOTAL 
 
 
                                                            
5.2.  Breakdown by contract type8 

5.2.1 

3a contract staff 

Table 6 

8 Source: Commission HR analytics platform 

16 

MFTOTALMFTOTALMFTOTALMFTOTALTOTAL%SG 11 8 19 0 0 0 190.6%COMM 33 8 41 33 142 175 25 68 93 11 32 43 35211.2%EPSC 1 1 0 0 0 10.0%ECFIN 3 2 5 0 0 0 50.2%GROW 7 11 18 0 0 0 180.6%COMP 9 2 11 0 0 0 110.4%EMPL 8 18 26 0 0 0 260.8%AGRI 5 8 13 0 0 2 1 3 160.5%MOVE 4 8 12 0 0 0 120.4%ENER 5 9 14 0 0 0 140.4%ENV 2 3 5 0 0 0 50.2%CNECT 14 6 20 0 0 0 200.6%RTD 23 8 31 0 0 1 1 321.0%JRC 53 8 61 0 0 0 611.9%MARE 3 15 18 0 0 5 1 6 240.8%FISMA 3 8 11 0 0 0 110.4%REGIO 7 5 12 0 0 0 120.4%TAXUD 1 1 2 0 0 0 20.1%EAC 14 1 15 0 0 0 150.5%SANTE 3 7 10 0 0 0 100.3%JUST 5 2 7 0 0 0 70.2%FPI 2 2 0 3 6 9 19 18 37 481.5%TRADE 5 4 9 1 1 0 3 1 4 140.4%NEAR 6 9 15 1 1 3 2 5 53 48 101 1223.9%DEVCO 10 15 25 0 34 17 51 355 296 651 72723.2%ECHO 1 5 6 0 0 0 60.2%ESTAT 3 5 8 0 0 0 80.3%HR 30 17 47 0 0 0 471.5%DIGIT 2 5 7 0 0 0 70.2%BUDG 7 15 22 0 0 0 220.7%IAS 1 1 0 0 0 10.0%OLAF 8 2 10 0 0 0 100.3%SCIC 21 6 27 0 0 0 270.9%DGT 10 5 15 0 0 0 150.5%OIB 138 48 186 67 439 506 32 33 65 3 16 19 77624.8%PMO 38 14 52 51 223 274 35 45 80 1 1 40713.0%OIL 40 16 56 25 90 115 13 9 22 1 1 1946.2%EPSO 4 4 5 16 21 2 2 0 270.9%TOTAL 536 308 844 181 9121 093 145 182 327 452 415 8673 131100.0%2014FGIFGIIFGIIIFGIV 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
5.2.2 

Auxiliary contract staff 3b 

Table 7 

17 

MFtotalMFtotalMFtotalTotal%SG 7 15 22 6 5 11 2 1 3 361.1%SJ 1 16 17 2 1 3 2 2 4 240.7%COMM 4 7 11 2 1 3 0 140.4%EPSC 3 3 0 2 2 50.2%ECFIN 14 14 7 7 14 4 9 13 411.2%GROW 5 42 47 9 19 28 27 17 44 1193.6%COMP 3 9 12 8 14 22 8 7 15 491.5%EMPL 8 31 39 13 26 39 5 11 16 942.8%AGRI 9 25 34 10 7 17 12 21 33 842.5%MOVE 2 25 27 10 14 24 3 7 10 611.8%ENER 19 19 5 7 12 5 7 12 431.3%ENV 3 36 39 2 2 3 9 12 531.6%CLIMA 1 13 14 0 3 2 5 190.6%CNECT 14 98 112 17 39 56 29 33 62 2307.0%RTD 33 158 191 62 62 124 64 77 141 45613.8%JRC 42 178 220 29 46 75 136 93 229 52415.8%MARE 2 7 9 4 6 10 9 11 20 391.2%FISMA 5 23 28 4 11 15 2 1 3 461.4%REGIO 4 33 37 14 23 37 4 9 13 872.6%TAXUD 1 7 8 4 4 1 1 2 140.4%EAC 3 14 17 6 10 16 4 6 10 431.3%SANTE 7 48 55 14 12 26 9 25 34 1153.5%HOME 3 9 12 2 5 7 2 2 4 230.7%JUST 2 11 13 2 8 10 1 6 7 300.9%FPI 1 5 6 9 11 20 3 9 12 381.1%TRADE 1 21 22 2 5 7 2 2 4 331.0%NEAR 5 21 26 15 26 41 35 31 66 1334.0%DEVCO 16 85 101 30 86 116 62 76 138 35510.7%ECHO 3 21 24 7 17 24 4 3 7 551.7%ESTAT 11 29 40 12 12 24 12 16 28 922.8%HR 15 59 74 3 5 8 2 4 6 882.7%DIGIT 9 9 3 5 8 5 5 220.7%BUDG 1 14 15 3 5 8 2 1 3 260.8%IAS 3 5 8 1 1 1 1 100.3%OLAF 2 15 17 4 4 3 3 240.7%SCIC 6 24 30 0 0 300.9%DGT 12 34 46 1 1 22 53 75 1223.7%OP 2 9 11 6 4 10 0 210.6%CdP-OSP 11 11 0 0 110.3%Total 2371 2031 440 319 508 827 487 5551 0423 309100.0%2014FGIIFGIIIFGIV 
 
 
 
 
6. 

BREAKDOWN OF CONTRACT STAFF IN THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES 

The total number of contract staff in the other institutions and agencies was 4 624 in 2014 and 4 179 in 
2013. This represents an increase of 10.6 % between 2013 and 2014.  

Table 8 

Trends in the breakdown of contract staff 
in the other institutions and agencies since 20109 

5000

4500

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Other institutions

Agencies

*The  creation  of  the  EEAS  on  1 January  2011  and  the  transfer  of  313  Commission  staff  to  the  EEAS  on  that  date  largely  explains  the 
significant rise in the number of contract staff between 2010 and 2011. More details can be found in the Commission's report to the Council 
on the use of contract staff in 2011. 

9 Source: Eurostat 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
6.1. 

Breakdown of contract staff in the other institutions10 

The  number  of  contract  staff  in  the  other  institutions  rose  by  17.7 %  between  2013  and  2014.  This 
increase is largely explained by a rise in the number of contract staff in Parliament between 2013 and 
2014 (from 874 to 1210 contract staff), an increase of 38.4 % in that institution. The increase in the 
number of contract staff in Parliament in 2014 is the result of a decision to internalise security and the 
recruitment of contract staff in FG I to perform those tasks. 

Table 9 

Breakdown of contract staff in the other institutions in 2014 

0% 

1% 

2% 

2% 

3% 

7% 

9% 

EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN

EUROPEAN DATA PROTECTION
SUPERVISOR

COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL COMMITTEE

COURT OF AUDITORS

59% 

17% 

COURT OF JUSTICE

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION
SERVICE

10 Source: Eurostat 

19 

 
 
 
                                                            
6.1.1 

Breakdown by gender and by function group in the other institutions11 

Table 10 

6.1.2 

Breakdown by nationality in the other institutions12 

Table 11 

11 Source: Eurostat 
12 Source: Eurostat 

20 

FMTotalFMTotalFMTotalFMTotalCOMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS71320151164267749EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE9122111213415741150COUNCIL OF MINISTERS239011321425527191130175EUROPEAN DATA PROTECTION SUPERVISOR443352714COURT OF JUSTICE369721210221711288311133COURT OF AUDITORS437411021211251661EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN12333117EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT219363582187472341178820597921891210EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE16163212420144324274336093343Grand Total282602884387864731841473311811733542042Grand TotalFGIFGIIFGIIIFGIVATBEBGCYCZDEDKEEESFIFRGBGRHRHUIEITLTLULVMTNLPLPTROSESISKautresGrand TotalCOMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS151531314136111349EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE1141397651350COUNCIL OF MINISTERS2674252118112183241111462135175EUROPEAN DATA PROTECTION SUPERVISOR11511514COURT OF JUSTICE10314224633421195233743312133COURT OF AUDITORS12221926529131661EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN1211117EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT63021629353480326014441111141271176215434345749771210EUROPEAN EXTERNAL ACTION SERVICE76453912534986113383289121481343Grand Total1747629216598714673982873161719223161875216580641212191822042 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
6.2. 

Breakdown of contract staff in the agencies 

There has been a steady increase in the number of contract staff in the agencies. The numbers are as 
follows: 1 933 in 2010, 2 214 in 2011, 2 408 in 2012, 2 522 in 2013 and 2 582 in 2014. 

Based on the classification established by DG BUDG, the available information is grouped into three 
categories  of  agency:  decentralised  agencies,  joint  undertakings  and  the  European  Institute  of 
Innovation and Technology, and executive agencies. 

Breakdown of contract staff in the agencies13 

Table 12 

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

Decentralised agencies

Executive agencies

Joint undertakings & EIT

2012

2013

2014

45 % of contract staff are employed by the executive agencies and 48 % by the decentralised agencies. 
The  remainder  (7 %)  are  employed  by  Joint  Undertakings  and  the  European  Institute  of  Innovation 
and Technology. 

The  increase  in  the  number  of  contract  staff  between  2010  and  2014  reflects  the  increase  in  the 
number of agencies and their tasks. 

A number of new Joint Undertakings were also set up in 2014: 1) ECSEL (Electronic Components and 
Systems for European Leadership), which has taken over the activities of the ARTEMIS and ENIAC 
Joint Undertakings, 2) Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI), and 3) Shift2Rail (S2R).  

13 Source: Eurostat 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
6.2.1 

Breakdown by gender and by function group in the agencies 

The  breakdown  by  function  group  is  relatively  uniform  across  the  3  categories  of  agency  and  has 
remained stable since 2012. 

Breakdown by function group in the agencies in 201414 

Table 13 

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

FGIV

FGIII

FGII

FGI

Decentralised agencies

Joint undertakings & EIT

Executive agencies

14 Source: Eurostat 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
 Table 14 

23 

Grand TotalFM TotalFMTotalFMTotalFMTotal103545294583522591834422271824091248ACERAGENCY FOR THE COOPERATION AND ENERGY REGULATORS4264410BEREC OfficeOFFICE OF THE BODY OF THE EUROPEAN REGULATOS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS1111113CdTTRANSLATION CENTRE FOR THE BODIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION6172351131426CEDEFOPEUROPEAN CENTRE  FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING44911034721324CEPOLEUROPEAN POLICE COLLEGE  115278EASAEUROPEAN AVIATION SAFETY AGENCY3420548202882EASOEUROPEAN ASYLUM SUPPORT OFFICE331122454917EBAEUROPEAN BANKING AUTHORITY881041422ECDCEUROPEAN CENTRE  FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL2281925103531134490ECHAEUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY221952427315891120104EEAEUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY1211363915193456EFCACOMMUNITY FISHERIES AND CONTROL AGENCY33114EFSAEUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY113574222427245198EIGEEUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR GENDER EQUALITY2233611210EIOPAEUROPEAN INSURANCE AND OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS AUTHORITY17320112561133EMAEUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE EVALUATION OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS6737013619371552141EMCDDA EUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE FOR DRUGS AND DRUG ADDICTION331111244823EMSATHE EUROPEAN MARITIME SAFETY AGENCY221251714543731ENISAEUROPEAN NETWORK AND INFORMATION SECURITY AGENCY1111561113ERAEUROPEAN RAILWAY AGENCY22314114411ESMAEUROPEAN SECURITIES AND MARKETS AUTHORITY447411741126ETFEUROPEAN TRAINING FOUNDATION 1031320323921147eu-LISAAGENCY FOR THE OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF LARGE-SCALE IT SYSTEMS IN THE AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE112356EU-OSHAEUROPEAN AGENCY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK91101111221325EUROFOUNDEUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS1121343323514EUROJUSTEUROPEAN BODY FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF JUDICIAL COOPERATION22831153843728EUROPOLEUROPEAN POLICE OFFICE1115318184967661298FRONTEXEUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OPERATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EU131372940848881686GSAEUROPEAN GNSS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY21354911102133OHMIOFFICE FOR HARMONISATION OF THE INTERNAL MARKET15619726617551049RECREC11223FRAEUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS5595145382700030535421557315788180Clean SkyCLEAN SKY JOINT UNDERTAKING2131125ECSELELETRONIC COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS JOINT UNDERTAKING5552712EITEUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY4262354415F4EEUROPEAN JOINT UNDERTAKING FOR ITER ANS THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUSION ENERGY1721933538235578135FCHFUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN JOINT UNDERTAKING11112IMIINNOVATIVE MEDICINES INITIATIVE JOINT UNDERTAKING22134117S2RSHIFT2RAIL111SESAR SESAR JOINT UNDERTAKING213341418263463092931624552171553721154CHAFEACONSUMERS, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD EXECUTIVE AGENCY114155491361934EACEAEDUCATION, AUDIOVISUAL AND CULTURE EXECUTIVE AGENCY336408488844132521668254EASMEEXECUTIVE AGENCY FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES1125429561773494695198ERCEUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL EXECUTIVE AGENCY33531164524092423072231INEAINNOVATION AND NETWORKS EXECUTIVE AGENCY172191892722234591REARESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY167124201447448122393473346Grand Total1449635871096955943609544773928702582GFIIIGFIVDecentralised agenciesJoint undertakings & EITExecutive agenciesGFIGFII 
 
 
 
 
6.2.2 

Breakdown by nationality in the agencies 

The location of the agency plays a major role in determining the nationality of its contract staff. 

Accordingly,  the  geographical  breakdown  in  the  executive  agencies,  which  are  located  on  the  same 
sites  as  the  Commission,  reflects  the  same  trends  as  the  Commission,  and  the  most  represented 
nationalities are Belgians, Italians, French and Spanish. 

Similarly, the location of other agencies and joint ventures is reflected in the breakdown by nationality 
of their contract staff.  

Breakdown by nationality in the agencies in 201415 

Table 15 

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

IT BE ES FR PL GR RO DE PT UK BG HU NL SE FI LT SK CZ AT IE DK EE LV Sl LU MT CY

15 Source: Eurostat 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                            
Table 16 

25 

ATBEBGCYCZDEDKEEESFIFRGBGRHRHUIEITLTLULVMTNLPLPTROSESISKXXGrand Total113039119591891003387597023116148201112511095476368171281248ACERAGENCY FOR THE COOPERATION OF ENERGY REGULATORS1313210BEREC OfficeOFFICE OF THE BODY OF EUROPEAN REGULATORS FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS1113CdTTRANSLATION CENTRE FOR THE BODIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION11231112511726CEDEFOPEUROPEAN CENTRE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING1111181124CEPOLEUROPEAN POLICE COLLEGE112228EASAEUROPEAN AVIATION SAFETY AGENCY2221317510131652101282EASOEUROPEAN ASYLUM SUPPORT OFFICE11141122417EBAEUROPEAN BANKING AUTHORITY11422411121222ECDCEUROPEAN CENTRE FOR DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL21312412311062521223823690ECHAEUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY36131925548114225291111104EEAEUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY214123133272323211456EFCACOMMUNITY FISHERIES CONTROL AGENCY224EFSAEUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY123516536450341498EIGEEUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR GENDER EQUALITY1215110EIOPAEUROPEAN INSURANCE AND OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS AUTHORITY 124133211212313333EMAEUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE EVALUATION OF MEDICINAL PRODUCTS12334110112257912102741351141EMCDDAEUROPEAN MONITORING CENTRE FOR DRUGS AND DRUG ADDICTION21311623EMSATHE EUROPEAN MARITIME SAFETY AGENCY41211111121631ENISAEUROPEAN NETWORK AND INFORMATION SECURITY AGENCY117111113ERAEUROPEAN RAILWAY AGENCY2121111211ESMAEUROPEAN SECURITIES AND MARKETS AUTHORITY11392522126ETFEUROPEAN TRAINING FOUNDATION1113241124121547eu-LISAAGENCY FOR THE OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF LARGE-SCALE IT SYSTEMS IN THE AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE13116EU-OSHAEUROPEAN AGENCY FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK1115222225EUROFOUNDEUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS113112211114EUROJUSTEUROPEAN BODY FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF JUDICIAL COOPERATION1323115112115128EUROPOLEUROPEAN POLICE OFFICE431513824244134821298FRAEUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS421131121111113327FRONTEXEUROPEAN AGENCY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OPERATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION2133111336131386GSAEUROPEAN GNSS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY3915133221333OHMIOFFICE FOR HARMONISATION IN THE INTERNAL MARKET3312121711112112311549REC12301530160148114780100230000147600223180Clean SkyCLEAN SKY JOINT UNDERTAKING3115ECSELELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS JOINT UNDERTAKING621312EITEUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY118112115F4EEUROPEAN JOINT UNDERTAKING FOR ITER AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUSION ENERGY53161441353221136417135FCHFUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN JOINT UNDERTAKING112IMIINNOVATIVE MEDICINES INITIATIVE JOINT UNDERTAKING2111117S2RSHIFT2RAIL11SESARSESAR JOINT UNDERTAKING12310251341352151118115196702131661334284229627612991154CHAFEACONSUMERS, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD EXECUTIVE AGENCY 16233131412131234EACEAEDUCATION, AUDIOVISUAL AND CULTURE EXECUTIVE AGENCY467511111223341253364211169311425254EASMEEXECUTIVE AGENCY FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES33071122201218732911295171117198ERCEUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL EXECUTIVE AGENCY5751722722831053213951231414231INEAINNOVATION AND NETWORKS EXECUTIVE AGENCY621718110271942418111591REARESEARCH EXECUTIVE AGENCY2851312412222286563121281912326346Grand Total2129676223117191525942216851452621933733415460155901444314312502582Decentralised agenciesJoint undertakings & EITExecutive agencies