Brussels, 30/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The unions of officials from the Council of the European Union have given notice of a strike on 5 February because they fear that administrative spending of the Community institutions may bear the brunt of the European Council's decisions on the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework.
The three unions - European Civil Service Federation (FFPE), Renouveau & Démocratie (R&D), and Union Syndicale - criticise the stated resolve of some of the leaders of the EU to make savings of up to €15 billion on the envelope for the operating costs of the EU institutions. In November's compromise proposal (at the European Council), President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy proposed reducing the envelope for operating costs by €500 million (from €63.1 billion to €62.6 billion in total for the 2014-2020 period) in comparison with the Commission's initial proposal. The envelope for the operating costs of the European institutions is used for salaries, pensions and property costs.
Felix Gerardon, the deputy secretary general of the Union Syndicale (Brussels), told EUROPE that the British prime minister, David Cameron, in particular, “wants to reduce Mr Van Rompuy's November proposal by another €30 million”. As other areas of the budget are fiercely defended by some countries (France, in particular, does not want agricultural spending changed any more, the Nordic countries want to keep the envelope for competitiveness, and the Southern countries and new member states do not want to sacrifice the cohesion policy), “everyone seems to agree on saying that administrative spending must be cut”. Yet in Gerardon's view, administrative spending is “already very weak in comparison with the situation in national administrations”. The Commission is focusing on a reform of the staff regulations bringing savings of €1 billion for the 2014-2020 period (plus €1 billion per year in the long term, like recruiting secretaries at salaries 25% lower). This, therefore, makes €1.5 billion less, counting Van Rompuy's latest proposal. The additional reductions would lead to the paralysis of the Community institutions, according to the unions.
Other action has also been announced including notice of another strike for the period of 11 February to 3 March. Commission and Parliament unions could also bring their support to the move. (CG/transl.fl)