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Reform
at the Europa Website - GO>>
Reform News
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Commission proposes a far-reaching overhaul of the European Union
22 May 2002 -
In its first paper to the Convention on the Future of Europe, the Commission calls for more effective EU structures that can respond better to citizens' demands and expectations. The role of the Union should be substantially strengthened in three major areas. The introduction of the Euro requires better mechanisms to steer the European economy. There has to be a genuine European capacity to enhance security and freedom of citizens. The Union must have a forceful foreign and security policy in order to make a difference in the world.
GO and
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Commission and Parliament end age discrimination in recruitment
8 May 2002 -
The European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, welcomes the decisions of the Commission and the Parliament to end the use of age
limits in recruitment with immediate effect.
GO
Commission implements its decision on mobility of senior staff
24 April 2002 -
The European Commission today implemented the developments on mobility of senior staff announced in January. 13 Directors-General
(DG) and Deputy DGs (DDG) are consequently being transferred to new posts from 1st July or in some cases, and for operational reasons
from 1st September.
GO
Commission launches appraisals for its most senior staff
17 April 2002 -
The Commission today launched a pilot scheme for the regular and thorough appraisal of its senior officials.
GO
European Commission opens documentation office for visually impaired Interpreters and delegates
12 February 2002 -
The European Commission has opened the Commission's first documentation facility for visually impaired people at the Albert Borschette Conference Centre in Brussels. With the help of computer-based applications based on advanced technologies, both visually impaired participants in meetings and interpreters who have received the necessary training will have full access to the documentation available on the Internet sites of the European Institutions.
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Commission boosts number of women in management and policy jobs
8 February 2002 -
Progress in tackling the under-representation of women in policy and management jobs in the European Commission has been sustained over the last two years. In the context of the Commission's internal equal opportunities strategy, and specifically to improve the gender balance, targets were set for 2001, in particular for all policy and management posts (Directors-General, Directors, Heads of Units and administrators).
GO
Commission finalises its reform proposals for staff policy and career structure
30 October 2001 -
The Commission today finalised its proposals for radical modernisation of human resources policy in the Institution.
At the heart of the new staff policy will be a more rigorous and transparent system of performance appraisal for all
officials, creating a much closer link between objective annual assessment and promotions. As a result the career
structure which currently places a premium on length of service will be modified so that career and salary
advancement will primarily depend on proven ability and performance.
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The Commission proposes an immediate reform of European Governance
25 July 2001 -
The European Commission White Paper on the Reform of European Governance which has been adopted, proposes far reaching changes to the way the Union works. The paper argues that people are losing confidence in a system which has become so complex that few fully understand it. The IRISH referendum on the Nice Treaty showed how alienated or indifferent many people are. Five political principles - openness, participation, accountability, effectiveness and coherence underpin the proposals of the paper. They should guide the Union in how it works and push forward reforms within the current Treaty. The White Paper proposes opening up the policy making process to get more people and organisations involved in shaping and delivering EU policy.
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Commission welcomes approval of new rules by European Parliament on access to documents following endorsement by the Commission and the Council
3 May 2001 -
The European Parliament has approved the Regulation for public access to documents held by the European institutions. A single set of rules will now govern the public's right of access to documents held by the European Parliament, the Commission, the Council. In principle all documents should be publically available. Any refusal to grant access must be justified by the institution concerned.
GO
PRODI DEFENDS COMMUNITY MODEL, SIGNALS RISK OF INTERGOVERNMENTALISM
3 October 2000 -
Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, made a powerful call to preserve the "extraordinarily successful" Community method in the coming process of institutional reform, and signalled the risks of following a method based primarily on direct co-operation between governments. He defended in his speech to the EU Parliament not only the consolidation of the roles of the Commission, but mainly the maintenance of the current balance between the institutions. Placing EU
enlargement at the centre of the Commission's preoccupations, he urged the EU to respond to the current worries of EU candidates. After signalling some of the shortcomings of the intergovernmental model, Prodi urged the EU to open a new debate on the distribution of powers between the Union and the Member States.
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Irishman appointed as Director-General of EU's Publications Office
26 July 2000 - The Commission
has appointed Mr Thomas Cranfield, (Irish, 55) as Head of the
Office of Publications (OPOCE). GO
Commission radically overhauls EU financial rules
26 July 2000 - The European Commission has proposed a radical
overhaul of the Union's "financial bible", the financial regulation.
It will include basic rules or contracts, grants, devolution of
external aid management and the Structural Funds. GO
Irishman appointed to top Commission post
On 3 May 2000, Professor Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, announced a number of important changes at the highest levels of his administration. Among the changes announced is the appointment of Irishman, David O'Sullivan, as Secretary-General of the European Commission, the highest position of any official in the "engine-room" of the European Union. (It will be recalled that Mr O'Sullivan has been head of President Prodi's Cabinet since the establishment of the new Commission last autumn, following the resignation of the Santer Commission.) GO
The Commission approves its Reform Strategy
On 1 March 2000, the European Commission published its proposals for the most far-reaching modernisation strategy in its 40-year history. This detailed design for reform is set out in an Action Plan which is published together with a timetable specifying target dates for each of the changes to be implemented. This decision confirms that the Commission's Reform Strategy process is on track and on time. The objective of that process is to equip the Commission to fulfil its role in addressing the challenges facing Europe with maximum effectiveness. The adoption of the White Paper "Reforming the Commission" follows an intensive consultation period with Commission staff, who have made a substantial and constructive response, and also with the Council and European Parliament, both of which have taken a positive view. GO
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