WRITTEN QUESTION E-1935/99 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission. Commission staff.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/33 This action has already produced results within the candidate countries: improvements concerning the naturalisation of members of the Russian-speaking minority in Estonia and Lithuania and the law on the use of minority languages in official proceedings that has finally been adopted in Slovakia, to cite only a couple of examples. Finally, the Commission would like to highlight the importance of its communication to the Cologne European Council on countering racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism in the candidate countries (1). The Commission trusts that its ongoing analysis and criticisms of the situation in the candidate countries will lead to minority rights being fully upheld and protected. (1) COM(1999) 256 final. (2000/C 225 E/034) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1935/99 by Nicholas Clegg (ELDR) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Commission staff How many full-time Commission áofficialsí are working either directly or indirectly in the administration of the EUís development and assistance programmes? What proportion of the total full-time staff of the Commission does this represent? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (10 January 2000) Following the recent reorganisation of the Commission services, there are approximately 2 600 head- quarters staff working in the six external relations services (external relations, trade, development, enlargement, humanitarian aid office and joint service for external relations). This represents 10 % of all personnel working in the Commission headquarters. Of this number, almost 400 are employed in DG Development, with an estimated further 900 staff working in other external relations services on development cooperation and assistance programmes. In addition, around 650 Commission officials are employed in the delegations in third countries. These staff are occupied on a wide range of external relations functions, including management of external aid programmes. The staffing of the external relations family is as follows: Headquarters External relations Trade Development Enlargement Joint service Humanitarian aid office Field Delegations (1) Grade 1 local staff: A grade equivalent. (2) ENDís, Auxiliaries, Interimaires. Officials External staff Total 666 379 346 214 551 118 2274 654 99 65 38 52 126 19 399 765 444 384 266 677 137 2673 local staff 28 (1) 682 (2)