Court rules against member states in EU salary battle

In a judgement issued on the 24 November 2010 the European Court of Justice has backed the European Commission's bid to boost pay for EU staff by 3.7%, instead of the 1.85% that the EU member states wanted.

The ECJ said that by fixing, in the regulation, an adjustment of officials’ salaries different to that proposed by the Commission, without invoking the special procedure provided for by the Staff Regulations in case of a serious and sudden deterioration in the economic situation, the Council exceeded the powers conferred on it by the Staff Regulations.

• Primary Source

ECJ: Press Release, No.114, 2010: The Court annuls the provisions of the Council Regulation making adjustments to the salaries of EU officials with effect from July 2009 http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2010-11/cp100114en.pdf

ESO: Background information: EU staff consider strike over pay freeze http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-staff-consider-strike-over-pay-freeze/

EurActiv, 25.11.10: EU officials win pay rise battle with member states http://www.euractiv.com/pa/eu-officials-win-pay-rise-battle-news-499987

BBC News, 24.11.10: Top EU court backs Commission over staff pay rise http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11828837

Le Figaro, 25.11.10: Brussels awards itself a pay-rise http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/404261-brussels-awards-itself-pay-rise

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