Brussels, 20/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 21 February, the European Commission is due to adopt its annual political strategy for 2008, setting out the main challenges which await it over the course of next year in the light of the five-year strategic objectives which it took on when it took up its function on 22 November 2004 (prosperity, solidarity, security and external influence). The Commission will also provide information on human resources.
The budgetary authority (Council and Parliament) have confirmed that 3,960 additional staff will have to be recruited between 2003 and 2008 to allow the Commission to meet its institutional responsibilities following the 2004 accession of ten new member states. 640 additional staff have been requested for 2008. The Commission has also requested the creation of 250 new posts in 2008, as a result of the accession of Romania and Bulgaria on 1 January 2007. In total, the Commission is requesting 890 new posts (801 were allowed in 2007). In addition, in line with the decisions on administrative spending, taken by the Budgetary authority at the end of the year (see EUROPE 9328), the Commission will be required to hold 30% of the funding needed for the recruitment of new officials in reserve. This reserve will be made available after the evaluation of its ability to fill the posts requested. The Commission will officially begin the 2008 budgetary procedure on 2 May, when its draft budget for next year is adopted. (lc)