Several rounds of bilateral discussions were held over the last few months between the Directors of the six Executive agencies (EAs) and the EC Trade Unions (TUs); and, between the Staff Committees (SCs) of the EAs and the EC TUs with the objective of paving the way for the introduction of the long-awaited social dialogue. On 19th June, representatives of all three groups of stakeholders (EAs Directors, EAs’ SCs; and, EC TUs) sat around the same table for the first time, although EAs’ SCs were invited only as observers and at the very last minute.
While some Trade Unions seemed to be rushing towards finalising and implementing a seemingly void Memorandum of Understanding, Generation 2004 asked all stakeholders to ensure that a proper legal framework is established for the social dialogue in the EAs. Generation 2004 considers that a Memorandum of Understanding does not provide sufficient legal certainty, and urges that a sound Framework Agreement is adopted as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the preparation and subsequent negotiations around a Framework Agreement should consistently involve the EAs’ Staff Committees. After all, it is the EAs Staff Committees who have been elected, while the representatives of the EC TUs have not been elected by the EAs staff.
Generation 2004 demands that a future Framework Agreement ensures that EAs’ SCs obtain adequate and sufficient resources to carry out their tasks in defending the interests of colleagues. Continued lack of resources will further exacerbate the frustrations and demotivation already present among the agencies’ staff.
Generation 2004 is convinced that the role of the EC TUs is to provide support to the EAs’ SCs. It is not their role to replace them in future social dialogue discussions. Furthermore, Generation 2004 also believes that the legitimacy rests with the EAs’ SCs.
Generation 2004 thus requests the implementation of the Concertation model already existing at the EC also in the EAs.
In any case, and regardless of the recent ruling by the ECJ, Generation 2004 is convinced, and will continue to fight for, that the staff of the EAs should be fully integrated within the EC. This is the only effective way to defend the rights of the staff and would ensure their mobility and career development opportunities within and across the European institutions.