Brussels, 24/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The Council of the EU is expected on Monday 29 February to adopt, without debate, a regulation setting the emoluments of holders of high-level public office posts in the European Union. Austria is expected to vote against the regulation and the United Kingdom to abstain.
The regulation takes account of the reform of staff regulations (regulation of 2013). The salaries of the top EU posts will remain unchanged: for example, the Commission and European Council presidents will continue to receive €25,550 per month.
The new rules will make it possible to reduce the amount paid in reimbursement of removal expenses for high-level post holders (with regard to allowances and reimbursement of expenses linked to taking up or leaving office) and to limit to two years the period during which former public office holders are entitled to the monthly transitional allowance. The purpose of this latter allowance is, according to the text, to assure these persons, for a limited period directly following their term of office, of “a certain level of financial security until their next paid employment with a similar level of remuneration, or other source of income such as their pension”. The regulation also amends the annual accumulation rate for pensions and aligns retirement age with the changes to staff regulations. Furthermore it aligns the conditions for sickness insurance cover with those applicable to serving post holders.
Public office holders are entitled to a residence allowance of 15% of their basic salary. They also receive a monthly representation allowance paid in euro (€1,418.07 for the presidents of the Commission and the European Council) and mission expenses.
It is for the Council to determine the salaries, allowances and pensions of EU high-level public office holders, including the President of the European Council, the President and members of the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Presidents, Judges, Advocates General and Registrars of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the President and members of the Court of Auditors, and the Secretary General of the Council, together with any payment to be made instead of remuneration. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)