Brussels, 22/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted a new system for appraising and promoting its senior staff. The measures comprise: (1) appraisals of Directors-General and Directors, (2) reorganisation of procedures for selection and appointment to those posts, (3) introduction of compulsory management training before taking on posts at that level, (4) introduction of one-year probationary periods and (5) mobility after five to seven years in a post. The text also provides for the decentralisation of Head of Unit appointments to the responsible Director-General, subject to safeguards.
Appraisal of top staff will take place at least every two years, whereas until now this only existed for staff of up to A3 level. This appraisal will be based on the achievement of tasks and objectives agreed between the official and his/her superior. It will also assess the degree to which human resources and, where appropriate, financial management have been carried out according to the accepted standards. Finally, the appraisal will take account of the political and human resources constraints under which the official is operating. Commissioners will directly carry out the assessment of their Directors-General and chefs de cabinet. Detailed provisions on the method of assessment will be set out with the assistance of external expertise to the Commission for approval in October 2001.
Certain new measures proposed relate to practical aspects, such as: - the drafting and dissemination of vacancy notices; - the information and counselling given to candidates, in particular those outside the institution; - the introduction of "rapporteurs" responsible for following in detail each selection procedure and liaise between the Commissioner concerned, the DG ADMIN and the consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA); - systematic pre-analysis of all candidates by external consultants to ensure that CCA has a good overview or their qualifications and experience; - focusing the CCA on the most important appointments, i.e., those of senior staff grade A1 and A2 and decentralise the responsibility of appointments to intermediary management functions to directors-General with the exception of A3s, where the CCA would continue to screen candidates in view of their potential of becoming future Directors. Specific procedures for Heads of Delegations and Representations are foreseen.
So as to keep senior official motivated by the perspective of new challenges, the Commission will confirm that the normal duration of a posting is limited to a maximum of five years, after which senior staff will be expected to search for another post, or be reallocated to new functions by the Commission. Only in exceptional cases will the Commission grant a prolongation of two years in the current post.
The Commission currently has 53 grade A1 officials and 195 grade A2s.