Strasbourg, 26/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - In response to an oral question posed by the President of the EP Social Affairs Committee, Michel Rocard (French Socialist), during the last plenary session in Strasbourg, Commissioner Erkki Liikanen indicated that the European Commission is undertaking to find a solution to resolve the numerous administrative and social problems faced by parliamentary assistants situated on the Belgian territory. Underling the precarious situation of the assistants with regards to Belgian legislation, Mr Rocard noted that they are "de facto border workers without having the rights" and wondered whether the Commission is prepared to propose adding assistants to the list of people which, under the 1971 regulation on cross border workers, may choose their country for claiming social rights. Mr Liikanen announced that the Commission would propose this modification of the 1971 regulation before the summer.
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