The fast-track procedure enabling Martin Selmayr, the former head of cabinet of the European Commission president, to be appointed secretary-general of the same institution at the end of February, replacing Alexander Italianer, has created incredulity with Renouveau et Démocratie (R&D), the union for staff of the European institutions (see EUROPE 11969).
While the news that has appeared in the press is well established, "you will agree with us that this involves an absolutely unprecedented and quite astounding procedure that requires explanation, which we have just requested from Mr Oettinger, the commissioner for human resources within our institution", the head of R&D, Cristiano Sebastiani, stated in a note to Selmayr that was also circulated among staff members on Wednesday 28 February. He added: "According to all our observers, your appointment is the most spectacular case of 'parachuting-in' a cabinet member. For the first time in the history of our institution, a cabinet member becomes secretary-general without ever having had the responsibility of a Directorate General or any other service. Furthermore, this appointment as secretary-general came about without the post even being published".
Sebastiani points out the contradiction between Selmayr's appointment and previous statements made jointly with Italianer. "In January 2017, along with Mr Italianer, you said that: 'the appointments of cabinet members to management posts in General Directorates dependent on their portfolio and placed under their direct supervision will not be admitted'. In support of these same instructions, you said that: 'these practices are demotivating for the rest of staff, who are not promoted with the same speed as cabinet members'. And, still together with Italianer, you said that you intended to ensure the strict respect of these instructions that are so well inspired".
The union notes that in October 2017, Selmayr had "seemed to want to reduce the scope of (his) initial statements drastically, or deprive them of all practical effectiveness". Hence the request put by R&D on 9 January 2018 to reverse the "exempting provisions" to the declared principle. "We were then awaiting a clear response from you: this seems to have fallen with your appointment", Sebastiani states.
In the end, R&D asks Selmayr: - "how do you reconcile your exemplary statements as head of cabinet of the president of the Commission, aiming to put an end to the unjustifiable and harmful practice of 'parachuting-in', with your 'parachuting-in' to the post of deputy secretary-general and then secretary-general of our institution?; - in your new position as secretary-general (...) can we once and for all know the instructions you intend to have respected on 'parachuting-in'?"
"Having a clear response from you is all the more urgent as the 'parachutings-in' have already been announced in several services", and as, "like at the end of the Barroso Commission, the administration (...) for which you are now ultimately responsible is reported to be in the process of preparing new procedures for permanent appointment that have been cleverly developed", R&D states, adding that it is only acting "to defend the credibility" of the Commission. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)