Frisch aired for chair

Date: 25/07/1996

Staff unions representing local employees in the EU's delegations around the world are still in a stand-off with the Commission.

Disagreement over the employees' pension rights led to a series of rolling strikes in the outposts earlier this year. The unions want the Commission to honour its commitment to set up a proper pension fund. Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek is not too keen on the idea and has given legal, practical and technical reasons as to why it cannot be done.

But a commitment is a commitment and so a working group is being established to examine all the options.

But who will chair it? Two of the Commissioners involved in the on-going saga have proposed Vasco Ramos, deputy director-general of DGIA (Van Den Broek's department).

But despite his credentials, Ramos is likely to be seen by the unions as perhaps too close to one side. Do not be surprised if the unions make a counter-proposal, perhaps suggesting someone who knows the Commission, but is less directly involved. A retired director-general perhaps? The name Dieter Frisch, former directorate-general of DGVIII (development) may come to mind.