Posts of accounting officers of executive agencies

PURPOSE :  to amend Regulation 1653/2004/EC as regards the posts accounting officers of executive agencies.

CONTENT :  Commission Regulation 1653/2004/EC on a standard financial regulation for the executive agencies pursuant to Council Regulation 58/2003/EC laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes provides that the management board of an executive agency shall appoint an accounting officer to the executive agency, who is an official subject to the Staff Regulations.

The Commission has encountered difficulties in finding appropriate candidates for the post of accounting officer of an executive agency to be seconded to this body. The function of an accounting officer of an executive agency could be entrusted to temporary staff within the meaning of Article 2(a) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servant of the European Communities, laid down by Council Regulation 259/68/EEC, Euratom, ECSC. It is therefore proposed that Regulation 1653/2004/EC should be amended accordingly so as to allow the management board to appoint an accounting officer who shall be a seconded official or a member of the temporary staff directly recruited by the agency and who shall be responsible for.