Suppression of posts in European organisations and the payment of compensation

Recommendation 310 (1962)

Author(s):

Parliamentary Assembly

Origin

Assembly debate on 16th January 1962 (21st Sitting), (see Doc. 1383, Report of the Legal Committee and the Committee on the Budget). Text adopted by the Assembly on 16th January 1962 (21st Sitting).

The Assembly,

Being aware of the danger that changes in the structure of European organisations may lead to the suppression of posts in certain of them and that, in the absence of an established European civil service, this may lead to redundancy;

Considering that any international official who is declared redundant, and who is not found employment in another European or international organisation on as favourable terms, should be entitled to adequate compensation;

Considering that the payment of compensation in such cases is in accordance with international practice, but that the rules governing such payment have not yet been standardised;

I

In the particular case of OEEC

Having learnt of the terms of compensation laid down by the Council of OECD for officials of the OEEC whose appointments are terminated as a result of the transformation of the Organisation,

1. Expresses its conviction that the terms of compensation offered are inadequate for officials who in some cases have given many years of their working lives to the service of OEEC - more particularly in cases in which they are now of an age to make re-employment more difficult;

2. Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should request the Council of OECD to reopen the matter, with a view to granting more equitable compensation;

II

As a general rule for the future

Considering Article 34 of the Staff Regulations of the European Coal and Steel Community and Article 40 of the draft Staff Regulations of the officials of the European Economic Community and Euratom,

Recommends to the Committee of Ministers :

that the member Governments should secure the adoption in other European organisations of the principles for dealing with redundant staff provided for in Article 34 of the staff regulations of the European Coal and Steel Community and Article 40 of the draft Staff Regulations for officials of the European Economic Community and Euratom;

that it should draw up without delay such staff rules for the Council of Europe and submit them to the Assembly for its opinion at the opening of its fourteenth Session;

III

Considering that officials who have worked satisfactorily in one European organisation should be given preference for employment when suitable vacancies occur in other European organisations,

Recommends that the Committee of Ministers should, when vacancies occur in European organisations and there are no suitable candidates among the existing staff so that outside recruitment becomes necessary, give priority to former officials of other European organisations, whose contracts have been terminated but whose services have been found satisfactory.