Brussels, 29 November 2024
Note for the attention of
Ms. Kaja Kallas, High Representative /Vice-President
and
M. Piotr Serafin Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration
Subject: Request for social dialogue regarding slash some delegations in Africa, Asia and South America to beef up others and downsize human resources in EU Delegations
First of all, we would like to congratulate you on your nomination, and we hope that throughout your term of office we will be able to work together to ensure effective social dialogue in the interests of staff, both in the Commission and in the EEAS.
We firmly believe that social dialogue is key to ensuring that any process is handled in the best interests of both the staff and the service.
We are writing to you in order to request a rapid start to the social dialogue to respond to the growing concerns of colleagues in Delegations about the plan to slash some delegations in Africa, Asia and South America to beef up others and downsize human resources in EU Delegations.
Up until now, the information had circulated within departments but has always been denied unofficially, but it now appears that the matter has been taken up in press articles referring to official documents.
We are, of course, firmly opposed to any move to weaken the role and importance of our delegations and, by extension, the European project which underpins the EEAS and of which the delegations are ambassadors throughout the world.
More than ever, we need a strong EU diplomacy!
Although we are aware of the budgetary restrictions, which are relatively modest compared to other chapters of expenditure, they cannot justify a profound political change in the role and importance of the external action of the European institutions.
In any case, any plan affecting staff, in particular through job losses, must be approached with transparency, fairness, and in compliance with legal and contractual obligations.
In line with the principles of social dialogue, we look forward to engaging in constructive discussions with you and would like to know first of all whether there is a real political intention to slash some delegations in Africa, Asia and South America to beef up others and downsize human resources in EU Delegations.
Should this be the case, we would urgently like to open a social dialogue on:
- – the rationale for the planned restructuring;
- – the timetable and process for implementing the restructuring plan.
- – the impact on affected staff and the measures to be taken to support them.
- – opportunities for redeployment, retraining or alternative measures to mitigate the negative impact on colleagues.
Full clarity is absolutely necessary and urgent at a time when press articles are reporting that there may be plans to make hundreds of our local agents and contract agents colleagues redundant! ( Commission plans to slash EU embassy staff around the world – POLITICO )
We look forward to your prompt response and to being fully involved in this process.
| T. Weber | N. Mavraganis | R.Trujillo | C. Sebastiani |
| Generation 2004 | USF | TAO | R&D |
Copy :
I. Juhansone, Secretary-General
S. Quest, Director-General HR; C. Roques, Deputy Director-General HR
S. Sannino, Secretary-General; K. de Peyron, Director-General HR, EEAS
OSP Commission & EEAS
Central Staff Committee
EEAS Staff Committee
Staff INTPA, NEAR & Delegations