The European Parliament adopted by 513 votes to 51 against, with 98 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of those Communities.
The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (former co-decision procedure). The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise reached between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:
Organising staff transfers to the EEAS:staff transfers and seconded staff from Member States should be organised in the following way:
Recruiting seconded national experts: the compromise reached in plenary states that the EEAS may, in specific cases, have recourse to a limited number of specialised seconded national experts (SNEs), seconded with a view to their performing specific tasks, in particular related to crisis management or military functions, over whom the High Representative should have authority. Their secondment should not be counted in the one third of all EEAS staff at AD level which staff from Member States should represent when the EEAS reaches its full capacity.
Ensuring a proper balance amongst the different staff components of the EEAS: in order to ensure a proper balance amongst the different staff components of the EEAS and in accordance with Council Decision 2010/427/EU, when the EEAS has reached its full capacity, personnel from the diplomatic services of the Member States appointed as temporary agents should represent at least one third of all EEAS staff at AD level and Union officials should represent at least 60% of all EEAS staff at AD level. This should include staff coming from the diplomatic services of the Member States who have become permanent officials of the Union in accordance with the provisions of the Staff Regulations.
Recruiting highly qualified staff: the amended text stipulates that recruitment or engagement should be directed to securing for the EEAS the services of officials and temporary staff of the highest standard of ability, efficiency and integrity, recruited on the broadest possible geographical basis from among nationals of Member States of the Union. This will apply to the EEAS as a whole and to its different staff components, including temporary staff. In addition, the staff of the EEAS should comprise an appropriate and meaningful presence of nationals from all the Member States.
Promoting gender equality:it is also stipulated thatthe High Representative will take appropriate measures to promote equal opportunities for the under-represented gender in certain function groups, more particularly in function group AD.
Duration of contracts of seconded staff engaged as temporary EEAS staff: the proposal provides that the engagement of seconded staff should not exceed eight years. However, in exceptional circumstances and in the interest of the service, at the end of the eighth year, the contract may be extended for a maximum period of two years. After this delay, staff may reintegrate immediately their posts in the national administrations.
Setting up a Disciplinary Board and a Staff Committee by 31 December 2011: the compromise states that a Disciplinary Board should be established by the HR for the EEAS by 31 December 2011 at the latest. The Disciplinary Board established in the Commission should also serve as the Disciplinary Board for the EEAS, until the High Representative decides to establish a Disciplinary Board for the EEAS. Similarly, a Staff Committee should also be set up within the EEAS by 31 December 2011 at the latest. Until as such time as this happens, the Staff Committee of the Commission shall also represent EEAS staff, who would be entitled to vote and stand as candidates in its elections.
Statement from the High Representative (HR) on geographical balance in the EEAS: the High Representative, Mrs Ashton, should attach the highest importance to the recruitment on the broadest possible geographical basis from among the nationals of the Member States of the Union, as well as to ensuring an appropriate and meaningful presence of nationals from all Member States in the Service. The HR should attach the highest importance to the promotion of gender balance in the staffing of the EEAS. A key to the promotion of gender balance is the encouragement of applications from women for posts in the EEAS and the removal of barriers in this respect. She will also identify best practices from national diplomatic services and apply them whenever possible to the EEAS. Full use of all the possibilities in promoting the employment of women in the Service should be made.
By mid-2013, the High Representative shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the implementation of this Regulation, with a particular emphasis on gender and geographical balance of staff within the EEAS.