(e ] 23. 11. 95 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 280/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC, EURATOM, ECSC) No 2688/95 of 17 November 1995 introducing special measures to terminate the service of officials of the - European Communities as a result of the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities, and in particular Article 24 thereof, Having regard to the proposal made by the Commission after consulting the Staff Regulations Committee (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliam- ent (3, Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Justice (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Court of Auditors (), Wheress, following the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, the composition of the Community civil service needs to be adjusted ; Whereas new posts have been granted to the institutions by the budgetary authority for this purpose ; Whereas, however, the European Parliament has made known that, as far as it is concerned, it intends to carry out this adjustment by resorting almost exclusively, as from 1996, to special measures to terminate service ; Whereas it is therefore appropriate to adopt such special measures for officials of the European Parliament, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : Article 1 In the interests of the service, and in order to take account of requirements resulting from the accession of () OJ No C 246, 22. 9. 1995, p. 23. () OJ No C 287, 30. 10. 1995. (}) Opinion delivered on 25 September 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () Opinion delivered on 26 October 1995 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union, the European Parliament is hereby authorized, until 30 June 2000, to adopt measures terminating the service of offi- cials who have reached the age of 55, with the exception of those in grades Al and A2, under the conditions speci- fied in this Regulation. Article 2 1. The number of officials regarding whom the measures referred to in Article 1 may be taken shall be seventy. 2. The number of officials eligible for such termination of service measures in each of the following periods shall be as follows : — 14 for the period from 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996, — 14 for the period from 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, — 14 for the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998, — 14 for the period from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999, — 14 for the period from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2000. Article 3 In the interests of the service in connection with enlarge- ment, the Buropean Parliament shall, within the limits laid down in Article 2 and after consulting the Joint Committee, select officials to whom the measures termi- nating their service under Article 1 shall be applied, after giving staff the opportunity to express their interest. For this purpose it shall take into consideration the age, ability, efficiency, conduct in the service, family situation and seniority of the officials. Minimum seniority of 10 years shall be required. Under no circumstances may these measures be applied without the consent of the official concerned.