European parliamentary assistants: application of social security schemes

The committee adopted the report by Marie-Hélène GILLIG (PES, F) approving the proposal subject to a few amendments under the codecision procedure (1st reading). The amendments were designed to clarify the wording of the proposal, for example so as to make it clear that the persons in question are not assistants working for the European Parliament (and hence forming part of the administration) but assistants working for Members of that Parliament. Moreover, it should be made clear in the text that in some cases the contract did not cover the whole term of office. The committee also wanted to spell out that the arrangement applies to all assistants having a contractual relationship with one or more Members, including those whose employment contract is administered collectively. Lastly, it amended the special rules applying to Germany, so as to ensure that an assistant could opt to be covered by the social security legislation of his/her last place of residence in Germany.�