EUROPEAN COMMISSION: NEW DECISIONS ON TRAINING AND NATIONAL EXPERTS ADOPTED.

The European Commission has approved two in-house decisions on administrative reform: one focuses on staff training and the other on detached national experts.Presented by the Commission in February 2001 as part of its new staff policy (see European Report 2573, same Section), the guidelines for training were covered by a consultation procedure, but this did not significantly change the proposal. One aim has been determined: by the end of 2005, an average of 10 working days a year for each civil servant has to be set aside for training. The Commission decision defines the relationship between the training undertaken and the more favourable career prospects. Heavy financial investment has been pledged, but given the strains in Category 5 (Administration) of the EU Budget, the Commission has spelled out its key concerns: catering above all to needs that have a strategic value for the institution and then...