WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2806/98 by Joan VALLVÉ to the Commission. The Misteri d'Elx
C 96/148 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 4. 1999 (1999/C 96/211) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2803/98 by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission (17 September 1998) Subject: Local staff of the Commissionís Office in Athens For years the Commissionís representation in Athens has employed local staff to cover its needs in running its office in Greece. Will the Commission say: 1. who determines the level of monthly remuneration for the local staff of the Athens Office, 2. on what criteria this remuneration is based, 3. what the pay scales are, and 4. what the exact terms of insurance are for those staff? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (27 October 1998) 1. and 2. The working conditions of local staff in the Athens Representation are laid down by rules adopted by the Commission on 14 March 1997 with a view to expanding the content of Article 79 et seq. of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants. These rules are reviewed periodically in order to adjust the remuneration of local staff serving in Athens in accordance with the parameters contained in the said rules. At the outset, remuneration was fixed by reference to the local labour market and is kept in line with salaries paid in the public and private sectors and the consumer price index. 3. The number of steps in the career of a member of the local staff is 21 at present. Under Article 80 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, local staff are covered by the national 4. insurance scheme and the Commission pays the employerís contributions. The local rules provide for additional insurance covering the risk of sickness, invalidity and accidents at work. (1999/C 96/212) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2806/98 by Joan VallvØ (ELDR) to the Commission (17 September 1998) Subject: The Misteri díElx The city of Elx (Elche) is seeking to have Unesco include one of its secular traditions, the staging of the Misteri o Festa díElx (Mystery Play or Feast of Elche), on its World Heritage List. The origins of the Festa date back to the late 14th century, since when it has been staged on 14 and 15 August each year to commemorate the Feast of the Assumption. The writer Joan Fuster spoke of the Festa as a vibrant popular feast drawn entirely from scholarly tradition which, together with the joyful piety of the local inhabitants, one of the most telling signs of a resilient culture, and the remnants of ancient liturgies blended into everyday working life, is enveloped in the security, both ambiguous and eloquent, provided by the great episodes in community life. Does the Commission intend to support this initiative to gain recognition for a valuable part of European culture dating back centuries, in accordance with the provisions of Article 128 of the Treaty on European Union? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (20 October 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to his oral question H-865/98 during question time at Parliamentís October 1998 part-session (1). (1) Debates of the Parliament (October 1998)