Brussels, 02/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, in an effort to respond to the problems arising from the increasing role of delegations in third countries, an increase due to the development of EU external action and trade relations with these third countries, as well as the de-centralisation of aid, the European Commission adopted a recommendation on reform of the External Service. This will soon be discussed by the unions representing the European public services. This recommendation outlines a series of measures aimed at perfecting the unification of this service and sets out a number of principles on which to base the activity of the delegations in third countries and address the consequences of making it compulsory to work abroad in the management of human resources at Directorate General External relations (DGs Relex).
In order to perfect the unification of the External Service, the Commission decision intends to hold a single service responsible for the management of all officials and other delegation agents, as well as strengthening the Collegial leadership, namely the External Services Management Committee, which consists of representatives from the External Relations and Administration Directorates and the Commission Secretariat General. The recommendation on the principles appertaining to the activities of the delegations in third countries sets out the rules applicable for both relations with other CFSP actors on the ground, as well as relations with services based at the Headquarters. It outlines the principle according to which Commission delegation have to exercise a supporting role to representatives on the ground from other institutions and establish close and permanent concertation methods between delegations and services at HQ, in a way that would ensure coherence in the Commission's external action. The recommendation also describes the role of the Head of Delegation and outlines assessment, audit and delegation control methods. In order to assess the consequences of the integration of all Grade A officials in DGs Relex having to serve abroad, provisions will be prepared to better prepare agents for foreign service and evaluate human resources needs in the External Service that will make the departure to foreign delegations more attractive and easier, as well as giving greater value to delegation experience in careers.
The serious difficulties in certain delegation posts have been taken into account by the Commission, which intends to present a proposal to the Council in view of adapting Article 10 of Annex X in the statute establishing particular provisions and dispensation applicable to officials sent to third countries. The proposal aims to give the competent authority special and motivated decision-making powers if the nomination body notices certain difficulties in posts abroad and can award additional expenses if it deems fit.