Brussels, 12/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Commission adopted the definitive plan for the consolidation of its services in Luxembourg, and empowered Vice-President Neil Kinnock to formalise the agreement with the Luxembourg authorities. The plan Commission is aiming to increase the number of staff based in Luxembourg, from almost 3000 to 3400 by 2010.
Mr Kinnock, declared that, "The plan adopted today fulfils the objectives that the Commission set itself when we launched the process of consolidating services in Luxembourg…We are also fulfilling our commitment to the Grand Duchy that this process would increase the level of Commission employment in Luxembourg… It is therefore a good result on all counts…I look forward to signing the final agreement with Foreign Affairs Minister Lydie Polfer next week."
The main change will consist of 460 posts in the Directorate General (DG) for Translation with the particular task of translations involving the languages of the new Member States; the creation of an Executive Agency and of a Directorate of the DG for Health and Consumer Protection to manage the new Health Programme; and the reinforcement of energy security activities of DG Transport & Energy, mainly by the transfer of some units that are currently based in Brussels. The Luxembourg services of DG Information Society and the EU Publications Office (OPOCE) will also be reinforced. DG Economic and Financial Affairs presence in Luxembourg has recently been consolidated through the transfer from Brussels of certain activities linked to the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund.
A total of 74 posts in DG Health and Consumer Protection and DG Enterprise will move to Brussels. Posts in DGs such as Eurostat and DG Personnel are not affected by the process.
As the Commission has made clear, the plan will not involve compulsory moves of staff in either direction between Brussels and Luxembourg. The implementation of the plan will be monitored by the Commission administration, which will present an annual report to the Luxembourg government as provided for by article 10 of the 1965 Decision concerning the seat of the EU institutions.