Commission recruitment rapped

Date: 29/11/01

By Martin Banks

The European Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) is due to open in County Meath, Ireland, early next year. The office - the only Commission directorate based outside Brussels or Luxembourg - will create about 20 permanent jobs and numerous part-time posts. But businesses in the area say they have been told all staff will be recruited in Brussels and there will be no jobs for local people.

European Voice has learned that the Commission has published a tender for a single "facilities management company", which would supply all local support services, and that such a company would have no obligation to sub-contract to local firms.

The move has incensed local traders. One businessman, who did not wish to be named, said: "Basically, it means that local companies in Meath cannot tender for this work. We have taken legal advice and believe that this is an anti-competitive practice and that such a practice is in contravention of the European Union's own directives in this area."

Several local business owners have now written to Irish MEPs and the former Irish prime minister, John Bruton, asking them to intervene in the matter. The FVO will be in Bruton's constituency.

The businessman, who runs a local haulage firm, added: "As far as we know, the EU has never published a tender in relation to any of its facilities before. We are asking for this tendering procedure to be declared null and void before the contract is awarded, so that local companies can tender for the work.

"In the light of recent job losses it is imperative that the local economy can have a chance of tendering for service jobs at this new facility."

Said Commission spokeswoman Beate Gminder: "The tender is closed and hasn't yet been awarded, but I expect some work will be subcontracted. It is wrong to say that local people will not benefit. They will benefit and there will be a major boost to the local economy from this facility."

The FVO has been hit by controversy with some MEPs saying the site chosen for it is unsuitable because of lack of facilities and concern about water quality.

The European Commission has been accused of flouting its own EU directives in job recruitment for its planned new food agency.