OPEN LETTER TO EU HEADS OF STATE AND
GOVERNMENT
Strengthening
of the European Civil Service
to secure Europe's future
Version
FR
We, the staff of EU institutions and bodies, are very well aware of this
historic moment for the European Union and the challenges ahead. We invite the
EU Heads of State and Government as well as all decision-makers involved in the
ongoing reform of the Staff Regulations to analyse the proposed reforms and
their impact on the Institutions' capacities to contribute towards solving the
current economic, financial and social problems. In particular:
-
the inconsistency between
the proclaimed objectives (invigorated EU Institutions with more
responsibilities and more efficient governance) and the means envisaged to be
placed at their disposal (fewer staff, short-term contracts, demotivated,
demoralised and ageing staff);
-
the expectations of EU
citizens and businesses to have reliable, efficient and professional staff at
EU level to serve them in an impartial and appropriate way, immune from any
external pressure from wherever it might come;
-
the need for a clear
distinction between the “executive” responsibilities of EU institutions and
agencies and the major political decisions to be taken at national level
aiming at fiscal consolidation and economic growth.
The 2004 reform of the Staff Regulations
continues to produce significant long-term savings for the EU Multiannual
Financial Framework but the consequence has been increasing difficulties to
recruit highly competent staff from all EU Member States.
We
join together in defence of the European integration project, which remains
undoubtedly the only viable and long-term solution for all European citizens in
a rapidly evolving world.
We believe in
the European Union’s capacity to meet citizens’ expectations and deliver
tangible results in terms of growth and job creation, whilst maintaining its
unique social welfare model and diversity.
We are
committed to its further success and are convinced that our dedication and
determination to overcome crises and political complexities, as proven
throughout the last sixty years, will pave the way forward in the future.
We sympathise
with the efforts undertaken by millions of employees and pensioners in Member
States, whose income and quality of life is endangered as a consequence of
economic and financial problems beyond their control and understanding.
We highlight
that the effectiveness of EU action is based solidly on the high quality,
competence and independence of its staff vis-à-vis external influences as well
as on the multicultural variety of origins and languages from all Member States
as represented in daily institutional business.
We call on
the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to resist
populist and demagogical attempts to devalue our European public administration,
taking into serious consideration its functional position and specific
objectives, its already very small workforce (which is even smaller than a
single Ministry in many Member States) and finally its cost-effectiveness
compared to the EU budget.
We invite
them to consider properly the particularities of employment in EU institutions
in comparison with relevant examples of other international organisations and
diplomatic services around the world.
We deplore
that the upcoming proposal amending EU Staff Regulations has not been preceded
and accompanied by a thorough Impact Assessment and Financial Statement.
We note that
the staff have themselves made numerous and serious suggestions for improving
efficiency through reasonable organisational changes which could produce
significant savings without undermining the attractiveness of the European
public administration for young, talented Europeans.
We call upon
EU legislators to engage in an open social dialogue, and subsequently in an
inter-institutional negotiation focussing on the challenges which are expected
to be faced by EU institutions in the future as well as on the appropriate means
at the EU's disposal to cope with them.
We stress
that any “blind” effort to undervalue EU staff performance will not only
undermine the effectiveness and deteriorate the quality of EU policies in a
period when more intensive and focussed action is expected from the European
citizens, but certainly deprive several Member States of a proportionate
geographical representation of their nationals within EU institutions and bodies
as the EPSO statistical data from recent competitions after the 2004 reform of
the Staff Regulations patently demonstrate.
We remain
confident that a constructive attitude and common sense will prevail, thereby
ensuring that the “European project” will further unfold its long-lasting
potential for the benefit of all Europeans.
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