Cabinets still in pole position for top jobs

By David Cronin

Date: 02/06/05

Working in the cabinet of a European commissioner is still a route to advancement in the ranks of the bureaucracy, according to figures released to the European Parliament.

Siim Kallas, the commissioner for administrative affairs, has given details of the starting and leaving grades of all those who served in a commissioner's private office, or cabinet, during the presidency of Romano Prodi (1999-2004).

His answer gives names for those appointed to head of unit positions and above, but preserves the anonymity of those in lower grades.

Kallas has also provided a comparison of nomination procedures followed in the last three presidency terms of the institution. According to the data, the proportion of jobs at the old A1 level (now A*15-*16) going to cabinet members was 15% in 1999-2004. That was 5% lower than during the Commission of Jacques Santer (1995-99) and 4% lower than under the leadership of Jacques Delors (1989-94).

But in Delors's time, 13% of such promotions were made in cases where the vacancies involved had been advertised outside the Commission. That was not the case in any of the promotions made while Prodi or Santer was in office.

Twenty of the 142 nominations to A2 (A*14-15) posts went to cabinet members under Prodi. At 14%, that rate was 10% and 2% lower than under Delors and Santer respectively. Yet only 2% of such promotions followed the external publication of the post in Prodi's time, compared to 10% under Delors and 5% under Santer.

Kallas provided the data after Austrian Socialist MEP Herbert Bösch alleged that Prodi had not given enough details to allay concerns that favouritism was shown to cabinet members.

Kallas's reply suggests that there was a cluster of names appointed directors after serving in a cabinet.

Of those appointed to head of unit posts, or equivalent, most were promoted upwards from their cabinet post.

Kallas's reply also details the use of Article 50 procedures, which provide a generous pay-off for senior staff. Whereas there were 23 Article 50 procedures under the Santer Commission, there were 55 under the Prodi Commission.

Some of the unions representing staff in the Commission have alleged there is a culture of 'parachutage' in the institution, with jobs deliberately earmarked for particular cabinet members.

Franco Ianniello from the union Renouveau et Démocratie claimed that there had been a "moderate culture of parachutage" for some time, but an "exaggerated culture" under Prodi.

Alan Hick from Union Syndicale, the biggest staff unions in the EU civil service, said he had been given assurances last year by Neil Kinnock, then the commissioner for internal reform, that parachutage had been radically reduced. "If that's not the case, we regret it," he said. "Union Syndicale is against parachutage, though we would not want to criticise able officials from the cabinets who are nominated to other posts. This shouldn't be a personal thing."

In response to allegations by Austrian Socialist MEP Herbert Bösch that former European Commission President, Romano Prodi, had not given enough details to allay concerns that favouritism was shown to cabinet members, the European Commissioner responsible for Administrative affairs Siim Kallas, published data on the starting and leaving grades of all those who served in a Commissioner's private office, or cabinet, in the 1999-2004 Commission.