Greek Presidency to table compromise on EU administrative reform 

Difficulties in the process have arisen over the financing some of the proposed changes. EU staff has pursued union action and staged a walk-out on 11 April 2003. Union's were largely opposed to the proposals on pensions made by a group of 8 Member States (Denmark, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and the UK). This proposal foresees increasing the pension age to 63 for Union staff, reducing the percentage of pension acquisition rights, thereby lengthening the mimimum career requirements for a full pension to 40 years and cancelling bonuses for those that work between the age of 60 and 65. The Commission has signalled its willingnesss to compromise on its proposals and hopes the Greek Presidency will be able to strike a deal between Council members and the Commission proposal. The Presidency's compromise will likely be based around the conclusions of the General Affairs Council (GAC) from 19 March 2003.

The Commission proposal and issues discussed at the GAC in March outlines how to:

 

• strengthen the principle of merit in the EU civil service and improving the link between performance and career development; less emphasis on promotion through seniority
• modernise policy on equal opportunities, social facilities and working conditions, to continue recruit and maintain a highly-qualified, multi-lingual staff
• maintain budgetary control over new and current measures, respecting the expenditure ceiling under the EU's financial perspectives

 

The Presidencywants to secure a political agreement from the General Affairs Council in its next meeting on May 19 before launching negotiations with the Parliament. As matters pertaining to the budget often take on a sensitive political dimension, the Presidency has said it is unwilling to continue on its path for compromise, should the Council demands with respect to the budget be too strict. It would then fall to the coming Italian Presidency to tackle the issue again.