WRITTEN QUESTION P-0828/99

by Eva Kjer Hansen (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 March 1999)

Subject: Recruitment of officials without tests

According to Agence Europe of 5 March 1999 the Council intends to recruit a group of staff from the so-called Schengen secretariat without requiring them to sit tests or undergo a probationary period, which seems to conflict with the Staff Regulations.

The use of a possible alternative recruitment procedure based on Article 24 of the 1967 "merger treaty" means that, on specific terms and on the basis of a proposal from the Commission and after consulting Parliament, the Council will be able to recruit external staff as officials without testing them. But the Council has presumably not thought of using this procedure in this connection.

What steps does the Commission - as the guardian of the treaty - intend to take to oppose this manifest infringement of the Staff Regulations and the equally obvious disregard for the Commission's right of initiative which is confirmed by Article 24 of the "merger treaty"?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 April 1999)

The matter in question does not come within its jurisdiction of the Commission (which is unfortunately unable to supply the information requested).