EC staff regulation: remuneration in euros, tax, allowances (amend. Regul. 259/68, 260/68, 122/66, 300/76/EEC/ESCS)

OBJECTIVE: to propose reform of the Staff Regulations of European Community officials to establish their remuneration in euros from 1 January 1999. SUBSTANCE: At present the components of remuneration and pensions (basic salary and allowances) of officials and the deductions effected in accordance with the Staff Regulations or implementing regulations (contributions, taxes etc.) are expressed in Belgian francs (BEF). From 1 January 1999, the euro will be the currency of 11 of the 15 current Community Member States. Between 1 January 1999 and 1 January 2002, any amount denominated either in the euro unit or in the national currency unit of a given participating Member State and payable within that Member State by crediting an account of the creditor, can be paid by the debtor either in the euro unit or in that national currency unit (transitional period). In view of the political significance and symbolic value of paying remuneration and pensions in euros for European officials, the Commission is planning to introduce euro units early, on 1 January 1999 (before the end of the transitional period during which national currencies and the euro can coexist). Consequently, the Commission proposes that from 1 January 1999, all references to the Belgian franc and all amounts expressed in Belgian francs in the Staff Regulations, the Conditions of Employment of other servants and any other regulations applicable to them be replaced by references to the euro and by amounts expressed in euros. �