Lisbon strives for accord on interpreters

Date: 10/02/2000

By Rory Watson

THE Portuguese presidency is hoping to clinch an agreement next week to end the uncertainty which has hampered the recruitment of freelance interpreters by the European Commission for the past 18 months.

The deal to be voted on by foreign ministers next Monday (14 February) is aimed at settling a long-running dispute over the contractual terms for the many qualified, non-staff interpreters hired by the Commission to work for itself, the Council of Ministers, the EU's Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Until July 1998, both the Commission and the European Parliament, which runs its own interpretation service, operated exactly the same system. Freelancers received an agreed daily fee negotiated in a multi-annual convention and paid tax to the EU budget. The former is well below standard rates in the private sector, while the latter is less than national rates.

The uncertainty began when the European Court of Justice ruled 18 months ago that the Commission's system was not anchored in a proper legal base but the Parliament's was.

This has raised problems over equal treatment. If, as some governments argue, Commission freelancers should be taxed where they live and not where they ply their trade, interpreters working for the EU executive would be treated differently to those at the Parliament.

The uncertainty has caused major difficulties for the Commission, which relies on freelancers for 40% of its interpreting needs. Many interpreters have decided not to work for the institution until the situation is resolved.

The Commission's interpreting service (SCIC) is hoping that ministers will agree next week to make the changes to the EU staff regulations needed to allow the previous system to continue. "We want a level playing field," said a spokesman.

The Portuguese Presidency is hoping to clinch an agreement on 14.2.00 to end the uncertainty which has hampered the recruitment of freelance interpreters by the European Commission for the past 18 months.