Foreign Affairs CommitteeFurther supplementary written evidence from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Letter from Tim Hemmings, Head, Future of Europe Department, Europe Directorate
Thank you for letter with some additional questions following the Foreign Secretary’s oral evidence to the Committee’s future of Europe inquiry. Please find enclosed our responses to those questions. If there is anything further we can help with, please do get in touch.
UK Derogations and Opt-outs
1. For the sake of completeness, it would be helpful if you could a) supply a list of opt-outs, derogations, etc that the UK enjoys under the EU Treaties, indicating the relevant Treaty provisions; and b) indicate the cases where these affect UK participation in EU decision-making, and how
The UK’s derogations are principally in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) and in Monetary Union policy.
CURRENT OPT-OUTS/INS
|
Treaty Reference |
Nature of derogation, Opt-out or Opt-in |
|
Protocol 15. on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland[1] |
Single currency opt-out: recognises that the UK is under no EC Treaty obligation to adopt the single currency and that a separate decision to do so would be required by the UK government and parliament. Establishes procedures to enable the UK to opt-in to the single currency—it is for the UK government alone to initiate procedure for moving to 3rd stage of EMU |
|
Protocol 19. on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union[2] |
Art 2 provides for UK (and Irish) opt-out of Schengen |
|
Protocol 20. On the application of certain aspects of Article 26 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to the United Kingdom and to Ireland[3] |
Art. 1: authorises the UK to maintain border controls on persons seeking to enter the UK from other Member States (thus opting-out of prohibition of internal border controls) |
|
Protocol 21. On the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.[4] |
Referred to as the UK’s JHA Opt-In Protocol. |
|
Amendment to Protocol 21[5] |
Amends Amsterdam Protocol on the Position of the UK and Ireland (the UK Opt-In) to extend its scope of application to all JHA measures in the field of freedom, security and justice, including police and criminal judicial co-operation. A new Article 4a in the Protocol makes explicit that the Opt-In applies to amending measures. |
|
Protocol 36, Article 10[6] |
The Protocol provides that, 5 years after the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, any remaining Third Pillar police and criminal judicial co-operation measures that have not been repealed, replaced or amended will be subject to ECJ jurisdiction and Commission powers of infraction. |
Table Notes:
Adopted in the Maastricht Treaty as Protocol 11 annexed to the EC Treaty
Adopted in the Amsterdam Treaty as Protocol Integrating the Schengen Acquis into the Framework of the EU, annexed to the EC Treaty and TEU
Adopted in the Amsterdam Treaty as Protocol on the Application of Certain Aspects of Article 7a TEC to the UK and Ireland (the “Borders Protocol”), annexed to the EC Treaty and TEU.
Adopted in the Amsterdam Treaty as the Protocol on the Position of the UK and Ireland, annexed to the EC Treaty and TEU (the “Title IV opt-in”).
Adopted in the Lisbon Treaty as Protocol No 1 amending the Protocols annexed to the TEU and TEC.
Adopted in the Lisbon Treaty as part of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions.
Derogations in Relation to JHA
Protocol 19 integrates the Schengen acquis into the EU framework. The UK is not bound by measures that are a part of, or build on, this acquis, unless the UK requests to take part in a measure and the Council agrees this unanimously or the measure builds on a section of the acquis which the UK has already opted into (Council Decision 2000/365/EC). Although the UK is permitted to opt out of these “deemed opt-ins”, it has never done so.
The UK is present at and able to contribute to discussion of Schengen measures. It is not able to vote on measures in which it is not participating. However, it retains an active interest in Schengen measures, and UK contributions are welcomed by other Member States. A good example can be found in the negotiations on the Schengen Information System II. Initially, the legal base meant that the measure did not apply to the UK, and therefore the UK would have been unable to vote on its adoption. However, the UK was able to take part in the meetings and push for a change of legal base, which was achieved.
Protocol 20 entitles the UK (and Ireland) to continue to operate border controls, notwithstanding the provisions of the treaty prohibiting barriers to free movement of persons. The protocol also allows the UK and Ireland to maintain the Common Travel Area. It does not limit the UK’s participation in EU decision-making.
Protocol 21 establishes the UK’s position in relation to the Area of Freedom Security and Justice. The Protocol provides that Title V TFEU, and no measure adopted pursuant to it, applies to the UK unless the UK decides to opt-in within three months of its presentation.
When the UK has exercised the opt-in in relation to a draft Title V measure, it plays a full part in Council decision-making in the normal way. The opt-in does not determine the UK’s voting position—we retain the freedom to vote against the adoption of a measure that we have already opted in to. However, if after a “reasonable period of time” the measure cannot be adopted with the UK taking part, the Council may proceed to adopt the measure without the UK’s participation. In these circumstances, the measure would not apply to the UK as if it had not opted-in.
There is nothing in Protocol 21 which prevents the UK from attending and speaking in negotiations on a proposal that the UK has not opted in to. Indeed, the UK contributes to negotiations on measures that it does not wish to opt in to, and is thus able to influence decision-making. Even where it has not opted-in, the UK also remains entitled to challenge the legality of the adoption of a measure in the Court of Justice of the European Union if it considers there are grounds to do so.
Protocol 36 contains various transitional provisions relating to entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and Title VII of this Protocol (articles 9 and 10) contain transitional provisions relating to JHA measures adopted on the basis of the Treaty on European Union prior to the entry into force of Lisbon.
Article 10(4) entitles the UK to notify the Council at least six months before the expiry of the transitional period (1 December 2014) that it wishes to opt-out of police and criminal judicial cooperation measures adopted prior to the entry into force of Lisbon. The decision on whether or not to opt out of these measures is known as the “2014 Decision”. If such an opt-out is made, those measures will cease to apply to the UK from the expiry of the transitional period, although the UK has a right to notify, pursuant to the procedures in Protocols 19 or 21 as applicable, its wish to participate again in those measures. Should the UK exercise the opt-out, Article 10(5) calls on the Union institutions and the UK to seek to re-establish the widest possible measure of participation in the acquis of the Union in JHA, without impairing the operability and coherence of the acquis.
This Protocol has no impact on the UK’s participation in decision making around current measures.
Derogations in Relation to EMU
Protocol 15 expressly recognises the UK’s opt-out from the Euro and lays down detailed provisions for the application of Treaty provisions on economic and monetary policy to the UK. These include in certain cases, the suspension of the UK’s voting rights in relation to Council decisions adopted under the treaty articles specified in the Protocol.
The effect of not being a member of the Euro on decision making in the EU is that the UK does not sit in the Eurogroup (or its preparatory bodies), the Governing Council of the ECB and the Board of the ESM.
Experience shows we can be outside the Euro and still be influential in making financial and economic decisions within the EU that are good for the UK. In the last two years, for example we have ended Britain’s obligation to bail-out Eurozone members and secured specific protections on Banking Union that the UK and other non-Eurogroup members needed. Proposed legislation for a single supervisory mechanism and reforms to the European Banking Authority included fair and legal protection for the non-euro States because of arguments made by the UK. The legislation established a new system of double majority voting to ensure that those outside the Eurozone cannot be outvoted by those inside.
Bilateral Relations
2. At Q 224 in his evidence session on 6 February, Mr Hague said that Mr Lidington was the first Europe Minister to have visited all the EU Member States. He also said that no Europe Minister had done this since the EU was enlarged (my emphasis). I would be grateful if you could confirm that Mr Lidington is the first Europe Minister since the EU’s major enlargement of 2004 to have visited all the EU Member States
Mr Lidington is the first Europe Minister to have visited all EU Member States since the 2004 enlargement.
3. When the Committee visited Berlin in October 2012, it heard that the UK and Germany had established a joint bilateral EU Affairs Sub-Committee. The Committee head that the Sub-Committee had met twice and was due to meet again in early 2013. I would be grateful if you could confirm that this third meeting took place; when the fourth meeting is expected (assuming it is); and whether the UK has similar arrangements with any other EU Member State(s)
The UK’s EU Affairs sub-committee has established a regular pattern of meetings with German State Secretaries. The EASC visited Berlin on 14 January for the third meeting in that series. Seven British Ministers led by David Lidington took part in the 14 January meeting, which was judged a great success by both sides. The next meeting is due in the summer. But Ministers on both sides have concluded that a meeting at their level will be impracticable just before the German federal elections in September. EU Directors will therefore meet, probably in June, to maintain the dialogue in the expectation of a further Ministerial meeting around the turn of the year. The UK has no arrangement for joint EASC meetings with any other EU Member State.
UK Embassies
4. When he gave evidence on 24 January to the House of Lords EU Committee, Sub-Committee C, for its inquiry into the European External Action Service (EEAS), at Q 274 David Lidington said that the “number of staff at pretty much every embassy in Europe [has been] reduced over the last few years”. What has been the reduction in headcount for policy staff in UK Embassies in EU Member States since 2007 and 2010?
We cannot provide an exact figure for changes in headcount for policy staff in UK Embassies in EU Member States. Policy staff can be UK based or locally engaged; while data on UK based staff numbers is held centrally, data for locally engaged staff is managed by individual missions and can change from year to year as local circumstances dictate, eg posts might reinforce their political teams by recruiting a locally engaged policy officer to support an EU Presidency for a specific period of time.
Over the period of Spending Review 20010, overall headcount within Europe Directorate (including posts in non-EU member states) fell by 76. The vast majority of this was the result of reductions in corporate services or consular teams as posts adopted more efficient working practices, including some consolidation and regionalisation of work. During this period a number of UK based policy positions were also localised and may subsequently have been rationalised as Posts developed more innovative and collaborative ways of delivering policy work.
To date under Spending Review 2010–14, we have seen some reorganisation of policy slots in posts in EU Member States. While the overall headcount in posts in EU member states continues to fall, this again is predominantly staff in corporate functions. We have to date protected policy positions, including retaining or localising rather than eliminating “Band B” (also known as “Executive Officer”) policy positions within the Europe network. We have also used the FCO reprioritisation exercise to create small scale but additional regional economic and policy capacity within some European posts until the end of 2015. Our headcount for policy work has remained consistent over this period.
UK Nationals on the Staff of the EU Institutions
Undergraduate survey
5. In 2010, the FCO commissioned a survey among UK undergraduates about their awareness of EU careers (“Students unaware of EU career opportunities”, FCO press release, 21 January 2011). Has this been published, or, if not, might the Committee see it (in confidence if necessary)?
We have attached the report, for the Committee’s attention. There is nothing explicitly sensitive about the survey results (which are anonymous) and we therefore do not judge is necessary for it to be shared in confidence.1
“Concours”
6. At Q 181 in the evidence session on 6 February, Sir Jon Cunliffe said that the numbers of UK nationals applying for EU careers had been rising. In answer to a PQ on 8 January 2013, Baroness Warsi said that there had been a “30% increase in British applicants to the main EU graduate recruitment”. I understand (from the FCO’s written briefing for the Committee’s 2012 visit to Brussels) that Baroness Warsi’s 30% figure is for an increase between 2010 and 2012. It would be helpful if you could supply the number of UK nationals who a) entered and b) were successful in the EU concours for generalist administrators, and the total numbers of a) entrants and b) successful entrants, for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. (I am defining being successful as making it onto the reserve list.)
There were no general concours in 2008 and 2009. We can, however, provide figures for 2010, 2011, and 2012. These figures illustrate the success to date in increasing the number of British people applying for EU jobs, but work remains to be done to help translate this into more successful candidates. Whilst there is no general concours in 2013, we are contacting those British applicants retaking the 2010 concours2 and providing training to help those candidates succeed. All British laureates in 2012 received training from UK Rep.
GENERAL CONCOURS
|
Year |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Total entered |
N/A |
N/A |
747 |
996 |
1,066 |
|
Total successful |
N/A |
N/A |
7 |
7 |
6 |
7. I understand that the FCO recently funded a secondee into EPSO. I would be grateful if you could confirm the dates of the secondment, and whether there are any plans to repeat the exercise
The dates of the EPSO secondment were October 2009 to February 2012. The exercise was a success, and we have recently placed another UK secondee in EPSO, co-funded by FCO and BIS. Since returning to London, the EPSO secondee now works in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office managing the team which deals with EU Staffing.
Fast Stream
8. How many entrants were there to the Civil Service European Fast Stream in 2011 and 2012? (I have a figure of 21 for 2010, from a PQ to Francis Maude answered on 15 June 2010, col 416). Since it is a two-year programme, and I understand that there is no generalist administrator concours in 2013, I assume that only those who entered the European Fast Stream in 2010 have so far entered the concours. How many of the 2010 intake of 21 have a) entered and b) passed the concours so far, and how many have secured jobs in the EU institutions?
14 graduates joined the European Fast Stream programme in 2011 and 15 in 2012. 15 of the 2010 intake took the AD5 concours computer-based tests in 2011, with three achieving the pass mark and proceeding to the Assessment Centre. Of these three, one passed the Assessment Centre and secured a place on the EU “reserve” list, but did not take up a place in the EU institutions. Additionally, one European Fast Streamer reached the required standard in a specialist AD5 Communications concours but failed on a technicality. 25 European Fast Streamers took the computer-based tests in the 2012 concours but none achieved the pass mark. Recognising that it is the computer-based tests which cause most difficulty, Civil Service Resourcing, which has overall responsibility for the European Fast Stream, is putting in place a more rigorous and targeted programme of training and preparation for this element of the assessment process.
9. Is the European Fast Stream only for entrants to the Civil Service, as opposed to the Diplomatic Service/FCO? If so, does the FCO offer any support for junior members of its staff who wish to sit the concours and make a career as a permanent EU official?
The majority of European Fast Streamers enter the Home Civil Service but the FCO have specific Diplomatic Service European Fast Stream posts set aside which form part of the European Fast Stream intake. The FCO will also provide support for members of staff not on the European Fast Steam, should they wish to apply for the concours.
10. I understand that BIS has provided bursaries for UK Fast Stream Civil Servants to undertake postgraduate study at the College of Europe. Is this scheme still functioning? If so, I would be grateful if you could clarify if it is for European Fast Streamers or “ordinary” Fast Streamers? If the scheme is no longer functioning, does the Government now provide any funding for UK nationals to study at the College of Europe? How many students, if any, were funded by the UK Government in the 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13 academic years?
The BIS College of Europe scheme is still in operation. BIS retains a budget to fund postgraduate study at the College of Europe, managed on behalf of Whitehall. The scheme is open to all Fast Streamers, whether generalist or on the EFS programme.
In academic year 2011–12 BIS funded four scholarships to the College for established Fast Stream civil servants with the intension of pursuing a career with the European Institutions. BIS is also funding four students in 2012–13 and intend to fund a further four 2013–14 subject to successful applicants being chosen through the College’s own admission process.
In addition, the FCO is planning to fund one member of staff per year at the College of Europe. This is new funding, and there is not currently a member of staff on secondment.
Job entrants
11. At Q 181 in the evidence session on 6 February 2013, Mr Hague said that there was an increase in the number of UK nationals joining the EU institutions, including at junior levels. It would be helpful to have any figures that are available to support this claim, including any information on UK nationals joining mid-career, as well as those joining at junior grades. In each year since 2008, how many UK nationals have joined the European Commission as permanent career staff at administrator entry grades?
As Sir Jon Cunliffe said in the evidence session, following the Foreign Secretary’s comments, the number of UK nationals applying for posts in the EU Institutions has been increasing. We do not have figures for the total number of UK nationals joining the EU Institutions that include those joining outside of the concours recruitment process.
However, whilst the number of successful applicants is broadly stable, more UK nationals are retiring than are arriving, resulting in a fall in the overall number of UK nationals in the Institutions. We continue to work to address this shortfall, and will be building on existing programmes which have proved so successful in increasing the number of Brits applying for EU jobs.
12. In the written briefing that it provided to the Committee for its visit to Brussels in 2012, the FCO said that there was a 100% success rate in 2011 as regards UK nationals who passed the concours then securing an EU job. If possible, it would be helpful to have this success rate “on the record” for 2011 and other recent years
Of the 2011 laureates, four have secured jobs. The remaining three, two are in the process of securing a post and one has decided to pursue an alternative career path. UK laureates are usually among the first to secure posts once on the reserve list, which illustrates the value placed on UK civil servants in Brussels. Under the new recruitment system, the issues experienced in the past, where many laureates were left on the reserve list, is now much less common.
For 2010, all of the seven UK laureates have secured positions within the EU Institutions. It is too early to comment on the six laureates from 2012, but early indications suggest that the appetite for UK laureates remains healthy.
Commission staff
13. The Committee would like to see some data over time for the numbers of UK nationals on the staff of the Commission, so that it can see how matters are developing
The total number of UK nationals working in the European Commission has been declining steadily as more British officials are retiring than are being recruited. The figures for total numbers of UK nationals in the European Commission can fluctuate within a one year period.
|
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
|
Total number of UK nationals in the European Commission |
1,449 |
1,452 |
1,417 |
1,362 |
1,340 |
1,296 |
1,175 |
1,094 |
14. In his speech “British foreign policy in a networked world” on 1 July 2010, Mr Hague said that the number of UK officials at Director level in the European Commission had fallen by a third since 2007. I would be grateful if you could confirm which grades Mr Hague’s statement applied to, and supply any data you have on the numbers of UK Commission officials at these grades since 2010
The Foreign Secretary said that “since 2007, the number of British officials at Director level in the European Commission has fallen by a third and we have 205 fewer British officials in the Commission overall”. The UK is better represented at higher grades than at lower grades, but as staff who joined the European Commission after accession in the 1970s start to retire, our numbers will continue to decline.
Director level positions within the EU Institutions, as defined by the Staff Regulations, are staff holding positions at AD14 to AD16. The UK currently holds 56 of these 698 posts, or 8% of the total staff at those grades. In 2011, the UK held 63 of these posts; in 2010, the UK held 76; in 2009 the UK held 71; in 2008 the UK held 85; and in 2007, the UK held 94.
External Action Service (EEAS)
15. I understand from evidence provided by the EEAS to the House of Lords Committee in December that there are 20 UK diplomats or civil servants on the staff of the EEAS (seconded national diplomats employed as temporary agents). I would be grateful if you could provide the breakdown of these officials by UK department. Does the December 2012 figure of 20 include the two EU Special Representatives who are UK nationals (Gary Quince, African Union, and Rosalind Marsden, Sudan)?
As of April 2013, there are 22 UK diplomats or civil servants working as Temporary Agents in the EEAS. These include 18 staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, one from the Department for International Development, one from the Ministry of Defence, one from the Department for Transport and one from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This figure does not include the two British EU Special Representatives who are UK nationals.
16. In a parliamentary answer on 16 July 2012, col. 564, Mr Lidington said that, in addition to UK diplomats and civil servants employed by the EEAS as temporary agents, the UK had 17 seconded national experts (SNEs) in the EEAS—two from the FCO, 11 from the MOD and four from DFID. I would be grateful if you could update these figures for UK SNEs in the EEAS
As of 1 January 2013, the UK has 24 seconded national experts (SNEs) in the EEAS: seven from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, three from the Department for International Development, and fourteen from the Ministry of Defence.
17. In a parliamentary answer on 16 July 2012, col. 562–4, Mr Lidington provided figures on the numbers of UK civil servants seconded to EU institutions and agencies in recent years, including from the FCO. I would be grateful if you could confirm that these figures did not include either the 17 UK SNEs in the EEAS or seconded UK diplomats or civil servants employed as temporary agents by the EEAS
The figures provided to the House of Commons on 16 July 2012 by Mr Lidington did not include any of the SNEs or Temporary Agents currently working in the EEAS.
18. I understand from the EEAS evidence to the Lords Committee that, of EEAS Heads of Delegation, 11 are UK nationals. It would be very helpful if you could supply a list of them, and indicate the breakdown among them between seconded national diplomats and permanent EU officials. Does the figure of 11 include Mr Quince, who I understand is double-hatted as EUSR and Head of Delegation to the AU?
There are currently 11 Heads of Delegation with British nationality. Three are seconded to the EEAS from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as Heads of Delegation to Switzerland, Morocco and Bolivia. Eight are permanent EU officials, who are Heads of Delegation to Egypt, Fiji, Indonesia, Israel, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Thailand. This latter figure also includes Gary Quince, who is double-hatted as EUSR to the Africa Union and Head of Delegation. This does not include current outstanding applications for Heads of Delegation, where we hope to gain further positions.
19. In what percentage of cases has a UK diplomat or civil servant who has applied for an EEAS job (as a seconded national diplomat to be employed as a temporary agent) been successful?
In the 2012 EEAS main jobs Rotation (the latest for which full statistics are available) the UK put forward 83 applications and secured six jobs, giving an overall success rate of 7%. In addition, the UK also put forward in 2012 42 applications for 34 EEAS jobs which were advertised on an ad hoc basis outside the main Rotation. We have secured three of these so far, which again represents a success rate of 7%, but hope to gain further positions as the recruitment process is completed.
20. When the previous FAC considered the EEAS in the last Parliament, as the Service was still being established, it was told by then-PUS Sir Peter Rickets that the FCO might second around 25 officials into the Service. Does the FCO expect the current figure of 20 UK seconded national diplomats to rise further?
As of April 2013, there are 22 UK diplomats or civil servants working as Temporary Agents in the EEAS. We continue to field UK candidates for EEAS jobs, and to promote them in the FCO and Whitehall departments as a good career option for talented staff. We anticipate that this figure will therefore continue to rise.
21. I understand that national diplomats seconded into the EEAS are employed as temporary agents on EU terms and conditions. In the FCO’s experience so far, how do these terms and conditions compare to those which apply within the FCO to the FCO officials applying for EEAS positions? Does the FCO guarantee to its officials that, after a secondment to the EEAS, they can return to the FCO on terms and conditions at least as good as those applying to them beforehand?
Staff joining the EEAS and taking up EU terms and conditions have found that they compare favourably to those of the FCO. The EEAS requires EU Member State governments to guarantee that they will take back Temporary Agents at the end of their secondment. Candidates return to their home department after the secondment ends on the home department’s terms and conditions.
22. How would the FCO expect a successful secondment into the EEAS by one of its officials to be reflected, after his/her return to the FCO, in his/her performance against the FCO’s core competencies? For what kinds of senior FCO positions would the FCO see an applicant’s prior successful secondment to the EEAS as desirable or necessary?
Secondments to the EEAS provide staff from the FCO and other Whitehall departments with an excellent opportunity for individual career development, as well as the chance to build and deepen EU expertise. In general, roles in EU delegations will provide a similar range of opportunities to develop core competences, core diplomatic skills, and country-specific or regional expertise as in equivalent FCO posts. In addition, some roles in EU delegations may provide opportunities for FCO staff to manage significantly larger budgets (for instance on development programming) than they would in a UK mission, to manage larger and more diverse teams of staff, or to use a wider range of language skills.
The EEAS is still a new organisation, but we expect it to continue to bed in and establish itself in the future. Successful EEAS secondments are likely to be an asset to applicants for FCO roles on the EU. Given that the EEAS has a large number of Delegations (though not as extensive as the FCO network), the experience of a successful secondment could be useful and relevant experience for staff working in very many areas of the FCO in future.
23. In the EU’s Delegations in third countries, how many UK nationals participated in the Junior Experts in Delegation (JED) scheme in each of the last five years? What have the UK participants in the scheme gone on to do? How many UK participants are being deployed to EU Delegations from March 2013 in the new High Level Traineeship Programme? What is the FCO doing, if anything, to encourage the participation of UK nationals in the programme; and how much funding for participation by UK nationals is the Government providing, if any, through a voluntary Member State sponsorship agreement? I understand that two EU-funded places are available for UK participants
Following the creation of the EEAS, the Junior Experts in Delegation scheme has been renamed the Junior Professionals in EU Delegations scheme (JPD). Like the JED, the JPD offers the chance for EU nationals to apply for a short-term traineeship once every two years. DFID is the lead UK department on this scheme. They received 80 applications to the JED scheme in 2008 for postings in 2009–10, and 100 applications in 2010 for postings in 2011–12.
The JPD was launched in 2012 for candidates to take up traineeships in EU Delegations from March-October 2013. DFID received about 80 applications for the 2012 JPD scheme. Two candidates successfully secured EU-funded places: one is now in the EU Delegation to Peru under the EEAS JPD, and the other is in the EU Delegation to Algeria under the European Commission JPD. The FCO is not funding any additional candidates but helps publicise the scheme and works alongside DFID to sift applications.
UK Civil Service
24. Answering a PQ on 16 September 2010, col. 1185, Mr Lidington said that “work [was] underway to develop a more strategic approach to the use of secondments of UK civil servants to [...] the EU institutions”. What progress has been made on this issue? How, if at all, are secondments to the EU institutions to be encouraged and recognised under the Civil Service Reform Plan and the forthcoming Civil Service Capabilities Plan?
Seconded National Experts (SNEs) are a key means of ensuring UK representation at the EU Institutions. SNEs are currently funded from departmental budgets. The UK currently places 60 fewer SNEs than either France or Germany. To redress this imbalance, a new “EU Staffing Unit” has been created in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The remit of this new Unit, which will commence work in May 2013, is to place 20 additional SNEs in EU Institutions each year for the next three years, with a specific focus on strategic posts within the Institutions. The Unit is funded from cross-Whitehall contributions, and will also act as a cross Whitehall focal point to develop best practice for SNEs.
25. What coverage is given to EU business in the new Civil Service Learning core curriculum? Are EU matters covered in any of the training that is compulsory for UK civil servants?
Civil Service Learning’s curriculum for Policy Professionals includes a 1.5 day course entitled “EU Training”. This course is aimed at policy advisers whose role is focused on, or includes elements of, work with EU. The course combines face-to-face workshops with workplace learning and is designed to explain how the EU works and how EU policies might be influenced. Policy curriculum courses are not mandatory. In addition, some Government departments provide specific and tailored training on the EU. For example, the FCO offers a one week course entitled “Understanding, working with and influencing the EU”.
Cabinet Office
26. I understand that Angus Lapsley has been seconded from the FCO to the Cabinet Office to work on the Balance of Competences Review. He is routinely described in public as Director of the European and Global Issues Secretariat, but I can find no public announcement of any change in the position of Ivan Rogers, who I understood held that position. For the record, I would be grateful if you could confirm Mr Rogers’ and Mr Lapsley’s current positions and when they took effect
Ivan Rogers is the Prime Minister’s Advisor on European and Global Issues and Head of the European and Global Issues Secretariat. He took over this position on 12 December 2011.
Angus Lapsley has been a Director in the Europe and Global Issues Secretariat since April 2012.
11 April 2013
1 See Ev 94
2 Retakes were permitted because of a technical fault with the exams in 2010.