Nieuw systeem voor aanstelling en betaling van ondersteuning van leden EP (en)

The Legal Affairs committee endorsed on Thursday legislation to add-on contracts of Brussels-based MEPs' assistants to the statute for European civil servants. This new scheme, of which the outlines were set out by the European Parliament in July, is part of a larger package of measures taken by the Parliament to overhaul the entire system of employing and paying MEPs' assistants. The proposal is due for a vote in Parliament's plenary in December in Strasbourg.

The committee’s report, drafted by Giuseppe Gargani (EPP-ED, IT), was adopted by 25 votes in favour, one against and one abstention.  It aims at ensuring transparency and non-discrimination through a set of common rules on the system for hiring MEPs' assistants.  The new regulation, once approved by the Council, will replace 27 different national systems on contractual relationships, taxation and social security with a single scheme.

Common rules for all Brussels-based assistants

Assistants based in Brussels will constitute a specific category of staff, taking into account their specific task of supporting Members in carrying out their duties.

The present proposal means assistants' employment contracts will be concluded for a specific period, although all contracts will end automatically at the end of a legislature.  Assistants will have similar social benefits to those of EU civil servants. Their salaries will be dependent on their grade.

The contracts of, and salary payments to, the assistants will be handled by the Parliament's financial services, but the MEPs will be entirely free in their choice of assistants, the tasks to be assigned to them and the duration of the labour contracts.

New rules also for assistants working in Member States

The larger package of measures includes not only a European statute for assistants working in Brussels but also the handling of contracts of and payments to assistants working in the Member States by qualified and duly recognised payroll organisations in those countries.

In addition, the approved text sets out that a maximum of 25% of the parliamentary assistance allowance may be used for services such as research studies or other advisory work.

The legislative procedure

As the statute for Brussels-based assistants entails an adaptation of the regulations covering EU civil servants and other staff, a formal legislative procedure was required. After the plenary vote in December, the changes will need the final approval of the Council. The aim is to have the new assistants' statute enter into force in July next year, right after the European elections, at the same time as the new statute for Members of the European Parliament.

04/12/2008

In the chair : Giuseppe Gargani (EPP-ED, IT)