Brussels, 08/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - At the call of the FFPE, the R&D and the Union Syndicale, the civil servants of the Council of the European Union went on strike for the day on Thursday 8 November. Their objective was to prevent the EU leaders adopting a decision on 22-23 November on the 2014-2020 financial framework, “which would have dramatic repercussions both on the European civil service and on European construction itself”, a press release from the unions states. The reform of terms and conditions is blocked at Council level. The European Commission's proposal for reform would allow savings of €1 billion on administrative spending between 2014 and 2020. Some of the large EU countries would like up to €15 billion in savings. The Commission proposes reducing the workforce by 5%, and some countries from 10% to 15%. Lastly, some member states are pushing for a pensions reform, increasing civil servants' contributions from a third to a half. If the European Council fixes the ceiling of this administrative spending below the ceiling proposed by the Commission, it will impact on the terms and conditions of European civil servants. (LC/transl.fl)