Brussels, 22/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Public Service Union believes that the success of its general strike on Tuesday will allow it to adopt a more offensive strategy during the consultations on the reform of the EU Staff Regulations, following the political agreement obtained by Council on Monday (see EUROPE of 20 March, p.11, and of 21 May, p.14). In a press release by its President, Alan Hick, the Union states that most of the Commission's proposals negotiated with staff unions were accepted by Council, such as; - including the principle of the adaptation method for salaries and pensions in the Regulations; - improving individual and social rights; - the new system of decompartmentalised careers, with collective guarantees of promotion. According to the Union, the Council has added "major unacceptable points", including "lower pension annuities than ours for new staff", starting once the new Regulations are implemented. By giving this point the nod, "the Commission has infringed the agreement protocol signed with the Union, which guarantees the statutory pension system", added Mr Hick, who sent the same message directly to Romano Prodi. According to Mr Hick, Mr Prodi apparently said that he would be open to sitting down with the unionists to look at the Council's political agreement. A consultation committee with the Council has also been scheduled. "Backed up by yesterday's strike, the Union will do all it can to improve the package", announced the President.