Member states endorse EU staff reform
Ambassadors back compromise with European Parliament on controversial measures to curb pay, pensions and perks of EU officials.
Member states’ ambassadors to the European Union have given their backing to a compromise deal struck on Monday (24 June) on reform of the Union’s staff regulations, which set out the pay, pensions and perks of EU officials.
The deal will now go to the European Parliament, whose endorsement appears likely following its approval by the legal-affairs committee yesterday (27 June). The compromise falls short of the tough curbs sought by a group of member states led by Germany and the UK, and opposed by MEPs.
Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, said today, just hours before the ambassadors gave their approval: “The European Parliament made a package between the staff regulations and the multi-annual financial framework. We looked at this and we are saying that while not all our expectations have been met, this is progress.”
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“In order to get a result at all, we decided to back the whole thing,” Merkel said.
Maroš Šefčovič, the European commissioner for inter-institutional relations and administration, welcomed the decision. “This deal is an appropriate response to the crisis, which also preserves the ability of the European institutions to fulfil their mission. Although no one can be entirely satisfied with the outcome, it is a reasonable compromise. Negotiations have been very tough, but I am glad that we found an acceptable compromise.”
Under the compromise, staff numbers across the institutions are to be cut by 5% in 2013-17; the pension age is to rise to 65 for current staff (up from 63), and to 66 for new staff; weekly working hours are to increase without compensation from 37.5 to 40; a special 6% levy on parts of officials’ salaries will be re-applied from January (7% for top officials and European commissioners); and salaries are to be frozen for 2013 and 2014.
Staff of the EU’s Council of Ministers were on strike from Wednesday until today (26-28 June) in protest against the measures. On Wednesday, staff of the European Commission were also on strike.