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Brussels, 27 October 2005
K.2/ AK / MDH REG(D) 522524 – VM 169/05
NOTE FOR OFFICIALS, TEMPORARY AGENTS AND CONTRACT AGENTS
SERVING IN THIRD COUNTRIES
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Education allowance A
The 2005/2006 academic year in the northern hemisphere
The 2005 academic year in the southern hemisphere |
In the reformed Staff Regulations, Article 3(2) of Annex VII introduces
the notion of "education allowance A". This is an allowance for children
less than eight years old who do not attend primary school.
Since September 2005, the allowance has been fixed at €32.12 per
month during the second year of the transitional phase as defined in
Article 15 of Annex XIII to the Staff Regulations. The allowance will be
raised over a four-year period to a maximum of €79.74 per month. The
allowance is granted automatically as soon as the official declares the
child to the Institution.
Article 15 of Annex X enables officials and agents who come within its
scope to triple the ceiling laid down in Annex VII, provided they
supply supporting documents. The upper limit for reimbursement for the
year in question is therefore €1 156.32 (€32.12 x 12 x 3). In exceptional
circumstances, the Appointing Authority may allow the ceiling to be
exceeded.
Officials and agents concerned are asked to submit their 2005/2006
(northern hemisphere) or 2005 (southern hemisphere) request for
reimbursement or request to exceed the ceiling by 31 January 2006 at
the latest. The request must be accompanied by supporting documents
(the original bills, itemised and personalised, a copy of proofs of
payment, and an original attendance certificate for each child – Annexes I
and II).
Requests to exceed the ceiling will be considered by the Appointing
Authority on the basis of the available budget, with the close examination
warranted by any exceptional decision. The following criteria will be
used, in order of priority:
- Cases where prices are exceptionally high for crèches or pre-school
establishments or pre-primary schools in the place of posting, and where
eligible expenses exceed half the basic salary of the official.
Eligible costs are fees and enrolment costs in crèches or other
pre-school establishments, excluding transport and meals;
- Pre-primary establishments following an international curriculum are
prioritised if attendance is obligatory to ensure continuity in the
child’s studies or guarantee the child a place at the primary level in
the same school;
- The official's family situation.
I would draw your attention to the fact that 35 exceptional
reimbursements were made for the 2004/2005 school year using the above
criteria. I ask colleagues who clearly do not meet the necessary
conditions and criteria not to apply for the ceiling to be exceeded.
The measure involves extra work for managers at Headquarters, so try to
show understanding if there are delays in decisions and reimbursement.
Please complete the forms in Annexes I and II and be sure to include
all the necessary information. This will speed the processing of your
file. Any incomplete file received by our department will be returned
to the official with the letter shown below in Annex III.
signed
Stefan Huber
Head of Unit
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