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'A' careers:
152 new DNEs since 1997!
We asked Mr GRIFFO how many detached national experts (DNEs) were currently
working at the General Secretariat and where, and were pleased to receive a
prompt reply. The FFPE decided to ask for a meeting on the content of the reply
for two reasons: Mr Griffo informs us that he is preparing a decision enabling
any DNE to be recruited in any field, while he fails to tell us the specific
posts to which they are assigned.
The numbers speak volumes: 152 DNEs are currently in post!
For the record, DNEs are national officials doing the job of A-grade
officials but are paid by their Member State (and receive a daily allowance of
EUR 104 from the Council to bring their salary up to the level of an
"A"). In 2002, the Community's supervisory tasks are performed at the
Council by 358 Community "A" officials (permanent posts on the
establishment plan), 30 temporary "A" staff (on the establishment
plan) and 152 national officials not on the establishment plan.
We recognise, of course, that 124 DNEs belong to the Military Staff and that
the Appointing Authority managed to get budget posts created for A-grade
officials under difficult budgetary circumstances.
However, the FFPE is extremely concerned at this trend. The Appointing
Authority must demonstrate to us that it has not recently accepted new tasks
merely to hand them all over immediately to national officials, without even
asking for them to be accompanied by budget posts for Community officials or
temporary staff.
For we believe that when an institution is expanding, as is the Council, the
fruits of its expansion should be shared out equitably. The current feeling
among the "As" is that the national officials have got it all and the
established Community officials have got virtually nothing, since the
Member States have given us the work and kept the posts for themselves.
The pyramid of Community officials has not widened sufficiently at the base;
it has stayed more or less the same, thus depriving the established A-grade
Community officials of the career prospects which they could have expected had
the pyramid been properly enlarged. Over a long period, when the volume of
a pyramid of 100 A7/A6s and 50 A3s is doubled, it becomes a pyramid of
200 A7/A6s and 100 A3s. The A7s see their career prospects increase by
sole virtue of the increase in volume: they reap the benefits of growth.
It would seem, however, that instead of enlarging the pyramid, the
Appointing Authority has kept it unchanged, and covered it with a layer of
DNEs, since it is telling us today "Don't worry, these DNEs won't block
the "A" category because they don't occupy any budgetary posts".
But for us that is not the point. Before deciding not to create budget
posts, it should first have been demonstrated that all the DNE tasks were
different and specific and could not be carried out by Community officials. We
have some doubts on that score. Even if we subtract the
124 military DNEs from the 152 in the equation, how could we expect
anyone to believe that of the 28 remaining "civilian" posts (JHA,
DGE), none are "traditional" administrative jobs which could be done
by A-grade Community officials?
It looks as if there has been a total lack of planning. Since 1997, when the
JHA decision was taken, the Council Secretariat has created 152 DNE posts. Why
did it not instead plan 100 DNE posts and 50 budget posts for officials
for traditional organisational and administrative duties?
The worst is yet to come
In its reply the Administration tells us that it is planning to submit to
the Council a decision to replace the four specific decisions which enabled
this situation to arise (two JHA, one CFSP and one military decision) with
a single decision which will enable it to recruit any DNE to work in any field.
Will there be 300, 400 or even 500 DNEs in the near future? Will there
soon be DNEs in every DG? The Council is not the Commission: our small
size and the proximity of the Member States call for the greatest
vigilance.
The FFPE calls for reflection. We are aware that in certain sectors the use
of national staff is inevitable. But until it is demonstrated that all the DNEs
working at the Council are and will be doing jobs which could not be done by
A-grade officials, we are opposed to a general decision.
We have therefore asked for a meeting with the Appointing Authority, which
should first focus on the impact of such a decision, especially as there is
talk of creating a "special" Secretariat for a reformed Presidency.
We refuse to see a permanent and indipendent European Civil Service
dismantled, whether it be by amending the Staff Regulations as the Commission
proposes or, what would be equally serious, outside the Staff Regulations
at the Council General Secretariat.
The FFPE Committee-Council
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