Living-conditions allowance (LCA) applicable in countries outside the European Union Article 10 of Annex X to the Staff Regulations

2005 mid-term review ⁽¹⁾

In accordance with Article 10(1) of Annex X to the Staff Regulations, a living conditions allowance (LCA) is fixed according to the place of employment of officials contract staff and temporary staff. The Appointing Authority has to review that allowance each year and, where appropriate, adjust it (Commission decision of 28 April 2004 on the exercise of powers conferred by the Staff Regulations on the Appointing Authority and by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants on the Authority Responsible for Concluding contracts of Employment (Director General)) after obtaining the opinion of the Staff Committee.

The following adjustments have been made to the LCA paid to officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Communities serving outside the European Union:

• The LCA for South Africa has been increased from 15 to 20%.
   
• The LCA for Bulgaria has been reduced from 20 to 15%.
   
• The LCA for Croatia has been abolished (it was 10%).
   
• The LCA for Australia and New Zealand has been abolished (it was 10%), since the departments concerned consider the living conditions in these countries equivalent to those usual in the 25 member Community (see second subparagraph of Article 10(1) of Annex X to the Staff Regulations).

RELEX/K.2 (REG. D(2005) 517878)

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COMMISSION

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Communities laid down by Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68⁽²⁾, as last amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 31/2005⁽³⁾, and in particular Article 10(1) of Annex X thereto,

Having regard to the Commission decision of 28 April 2004 on the exercise of powers conferred by the Staff Regulations on the Appointing Authority and by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants on the Authority Responsible for Concluding Contracts of Employment,

After consulting the Staff Committee and the Steering Committee for the External Service,

Whereas:

1. Account should be taken of the examination by the relevant Commission departments of the results of the questionnaire on living conditions completed by the delegations, the ratings of the United Nations system of hardship allowances and other information available.
    
2. Account should be taken of the Technical Group’s discussions at its meeting of 15 October 2004 concerning the Appointing Authority’s evaluation of the living conditions allowance for all places of employment from 1 January 2005.
    
3. Account should be taken of the conclusions of the technical group’s meeting of 2 May 2005 and of the comments made by the relevant departments when the Steering Committee for the External Service was consulted on the revision of the living conditions allowance from 1 July 2005 by:
    
   • increasing the living conditions allowance for South Africa (from 15 to 20%);
   • reducing the living conditions allowance for Bulgaria (from 20 to 15%);
   • abolishing the 10% living conditions allowance for Croatia;
   • abolishing the 10% living conditions allowances for Australia and New Zealand, since the departments concerned consider living conditions in these countries equivalent to those usual in the 25 member Community (see second subparagraph of Article 10(1) of Annex X to the Staff Regulations),

THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

From 1 July 2005 officials, temporary staff and contract staff of the European Communities assigned to postings outside the European Union shall be paid a living-conditions allowance at the rate specified for their place of employment in the Annex.

This decision repeals that of 1 January 2005.

Done at Brussels, 21 September 2005.

Eneko Landaburu
Director-General for External Relations
[signed]

LIST OF PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT AND LIVING-CONDITIONS ALLOWANCE RATES
Date of effect: 1 July 2005

* Revised following 2005 mid term review.
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Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ The rates for 2006 will be published at a later date.
⁽²⁾ OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1.
⁽³⁾ OJ L 8, 12.1.2005, p. 1.