Second trilogue on Staff Regulations
Brussels, 28 May 2013

Participants:
- EP: Ms ROTH-BEHRENDT (S&D/DE), rapporteur, Mr BALDASSARRE (EPP/IT), shadow, Mr SPERONI (EFD/IT), shadow
- Council Presidency: Mr MONTGOMERY, Irish Permanent Representative, Representatives of the Irish Presidency, the future Lithuanian Presidency and the Council Secretariat
- Commission: Vice-President ŠEFCOVIC, Ms SOUKA, Mr FRUTUOSO DE MELO, Mr LEVASSEUR, Mr ROQUES (DG HR), Mr NOCIAR, Ms PRADINES, Mr LINDER (Mr ŠEFCOVIC's cabinet)

Summary:

The trilogue meeting allowed for progress on the discussions to reform the method of calculation of the salaries and the solidarity levy. A first exchange of views on career structure took place but EP and COM insisted that this issue is not part of the EC conclusions.

Detail:

The Council expressed its first views on the renewal of the method, after the technical discussions that took place last week. Council made clear that it's important to secure an exception clause that takes into account the moment of economic difficulties, and a moderation clause. Council said it would also like to see an increase of the number of countries to be included in the basket while taking into account the different categories of staff, and on solidarity levy Council insisted that it should be applied across the board. EP indicated that the basis for discussion is the method and that the method to calculate salaries is not only a method to cut them. In this respect, EP showed openness for a crisis clause but not as suggested by Council. EP insisted also that a combined effect of solidarity level plus downward adjustment of salaries would not be acceptable. COM insisted that in principles that should be respected, pointed out the difficulty to apply reductions to different categories of staff in terms of management and insisted that downward reduction plus solidarity levy would be an unacceptable burden for the staff.

After this exchange of views, Council and EP concluded that a way forward for an agreement on the method would be based on a technical evaluation of the potential basket (based around 10-11 MS with geographic balance), wording on moderation clause and a fair crisis clause plus a review date that for EP should be as long as possible and for Council shorter (5-6 years). Council insisted on solidarity levy but EP maintained that Council would have to exchange many things in return.

After the discussion on the method the trilogue had an exchange of views on career structure, where Council insisted on its idea of link of career structure with management responsibilities, limits on certain categories of staff and fast track for certain staff with special merits. EP insisted that this issue is not in the MFF conclusions, but that it could accept certain changes to the career structure such as linking career to responsibility and merit starting by grade AD12, minimum years for promotion and prior positive evaluation before ascending echelons. COM alerted strongly against the attempts to destroy EU public through these measures, that are already putting COM in difficulties to recruit people at AD 5 grade. COM insisted that a combination of fast-track and slower progression for the rest would be difficult to explain and rejected the idea of setting numbers for AD grades.

The contact group created between the three Institutions will make a technical analysis of the different elements in order to facilitate discussions in technical and political trilogues.

Next steps: Trilogue meeting 3d of June