Brussels, 08/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 6 February, the European Commission adopted its 2005 annual report on the application of special and exceptional provisions to officials and temporary agents serving in non-EU member states. As at 31 December 2005, there were 1021 officials/temporary staff members in delegations (including 26 new contract staff posts) compared with 1008 on 31 December 2004. The 55 vacant posts accounted for 5.5% of posts, compared with 11.11% (112 vacant posts) in 2004. The report notes that since the end of 2005 all delegations have housing standards governing the rental of accommodation in the host country.
In all, 237 officials moved under the 2005 rotation exercise, compared with 258 in 2004. 'Officials serving in third countries are continuing to make an effort to use their entitlement and reduce excessive carryover of leave,' comments the Commission. Nearly 55% of officials serving in third countries carried over less than 14 days of annual leave. Carryovers of more than 14 days fell 2% on 2004 levels. On 20 December 2004, the Commission fixed the living conditions allowance rates for 2005 (LCA). It decided on increases for LCAs for Jamaica (from 15% to 20%) and Laos and Pakistan (from 30% to 35%). LCAs were decreased for Romania (from 20% to 15%), Cape Verde (from 30% to 25%), and Algeria and Serbia and Montenegro/Kosovo (from 35% to 30%). Further changes were made on 1 July 2005: LCAs were increased from 15% to 20% for South Africa and cut from 20% to 15% for Bulgaria. The European Commission decided to scrap LCAs for Australia, Croatia and New Zealand because living conditions in these countries are equivalent to those usual in the EU25.
Education allowances from the EU budget to officials in third countries totalled €3.8 million in 2004/2005. The system of granting allowances to officials whose children's school fees were particularly high was maintained. Following an overall increase in school expenses for some delegations, particularly in Japan, Washington and New York, the Commission allowed fee ceilings to be exceeded. Such authorisations were exceptional and covered children taught at the place of employment in international schools awarding European or international baccalaureates. In 2004/2005 the Commission launched Education Allowance A for children under 8 and not yet in their first year of primary school. This was introduced as part of the administrative reform of 1 May 2004.
Under reimbursement of expenses, the Commission paid €700,000 in travel expenses for rest leave and paid for 324 removals in 2005 (compared with 415 in 2004). In addition, the European Commission reimbursed rent for 134 officials not provided with accommodation by the Commission.
The Medical Service authorised 77 repatriations in 2005 for medical reasons, 58 of them for a medical emergency. The SOS Air Ambulance annual premium cost €16,905 in 2005. Five accident insurance requests were lodged in 2005 under officials' insurance schemes. (lc)