(1)

Council Decision 2013/471/EU (1) laid down rules on the granting of daily allowances to and the reimbursement of travel expenses of members of the European Economic and Social Committee (the ‘Committee’) and their alternates.

(2)

Council Decision (EU) 2023/1013 (2) introduced a derogation from Articles 2, 3 and 4 of Decision 2013/471/EU as regards the granting of daily allowances and the reimbursement of travel expenses to members of the Committee and their alternates (together referred to as the ‘beneficiaries’), entitling beneficiaries who attend meetings remotely by electronic means to a daily allowance. Moreover, it was considered appropriate that the granting of such daily allowances be part of a future comprehensive revision of Decision 2013/471/EU, to be undertaken before the end of the current term of office of the Committee.

(3)

Decision (EU) 2023/1013 provided for a daily allowance for beneficiaries who attend certain meetings of the Committee remotely by electronic means. Specifically, that Decision provided for daily allowances for meetings that have been authorised in accordance with the internal rules of the Committee, except for Bureau meetings, plenary sessions of the Assembly, meetings of sections and meetings of the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change, and, in duly justified and exceptional circumstances, for other duly authorised meetings, that are impossible to organise fully in person and essential in guaranteeing the Committee’s institutional and business continuity. For reasons of clarity and transparency, it is appropriate to incorporate into this Decision the same conditions that have applied since 2023.

(4)

On 25 August 2023, the Committee requested the Council to adopt a new decision on the granting of daily allowances and the reimbursement of travel expenses of members of the Committee and their alternates, to adjust the amounts of daily allowances set in Article 2 of Decision 2013/471/EU in order to take into account the changes in purchasing power between 2013 and 2023 according to Eurostat data. In that context, it is also important to maintain the appropriate balance between the various institutions and advisory bodies of the Union, in particular with the European Committee of the Regions.

(5)

The amounts of the daily allowances paid to members of the Committee and their alternates have not been adjusted since 2013 and should be adapted. A review of the amounts should take place on a regular basis. Accordingly, a review should take place within the 12 months preceding the start of the 5-year term of office of the Committee. In addition, it should be possible for a review to take place when inflation levels exceed a particular percentage according to Eurostat data. Provision should also be made for a system for the reimbursement of travel expenses on the basis of actual costs, as well as for allowances compensating for the time spent by members of the Committee and their alternates in performance of their duties and for related administrative costs.

(6)

Where appropriate, detailed rules relating to the granting of allowances, the reimbursement of travel expenses and the setting of ceilings for reimbursement of travel expenses should be established at Committee level. Furthermore, such detailed rules on allowances should aim to maximise the benefits resulting from remote attendance while at the same time ensuring that there is no unjustified increase in the number of meetings organised by the Committee. The implementing rules should give preference to greener modes of transport, in particular train travel for shorter distances, and to travel arrangements that reduce the carbon footprint of the beneficiaries in line with the EU 2050 climate goals. Starting from the first day of the next term of office of the Committee, as a general rule, the implementing rules should set reference amounts for the maximum reimbursement for air travel, which should be comparable to an economy class fare.

(7)

The Committee should submit to the European Parliament and to the Council regular reports on the reimbursement of travel expenses and allowances paid to beneficiaries in the preceding year. Those reports should, in particular, indicate the budgetary impact and the travel expenses incurred and reimbursed, the allowances paid for both in-person and remote attendance of meetings, the evolution in the number of meetings of the Committee attended remotely by electronic means, the duration of such meetings, and any budgetary savings and environmental benefits associated with remote attendance.

(8)

The Committee should submit to the Council an evaluation report on the application of this Decision, and particularly on its budgetary impact. That evaluation report should include the elements that will enable the Council to determine, as necessary, the allowances of beneficiaries.

(9)

Decisions 2013/471/EU and (EU) 2023/1013 should therefore be repealed,

(a)

for the part of the journey between 0 and 50 km: EUR 18,98;

(b)

for the part of the journey between 51 and 500 km: EUR 0,10/km;

(c)

for the part of the journey between 501 and 1 000 km: EUR 0,05/km;

(d)

for the part of the journey between 1 001 and 3 000 km: EUR 0,03/km;

(e)

for the part of the journey exceeding 3 000 km: no allowance.

(a)

for a journey of a total duration of between two and four hours: an amount equivalent to one eighth of the daily allowance provided for in Article 2;

(b)

for a journey of a total duration of between four and six hours: an amount equivalent to one quarter of the daily allowance provided for in Article 2;

(c)

for a journey of a total duration of more than six hours and not requiring an overnight stay: an amount equivalent to half the daily allowance provided for in Article 2;

(d)

for a journey of a total duration of more than six hours and requiring an overnight stay: an amount equivalent to the daily allowance provided for in Article 2, subject to the presentation of supporting documents.