Reform of the European Commission: Commission launches its ‘route map for reform’ , November 1999

On the 19 October 1999 Neil Kinnock, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Administrative Reform, outlined a set of measures and timetable as part of the new Commission's key priority of reforming its own administrative processes. This 'route map for reform' outlines a timetable for the Commission's reform agenda, the key date being the launching of a Reform Strategy Programme in February 2000. Details of the proposals can be found in a Press Release and a Speech given by European Commissioner Kinnock.

The reform process aims at introducing a culture of change within the Commission, to increase the Institution's efficiency, accountability and transparency, and to foster the ethos of public service. A Task Force for Administrative Reform (TFAR) has been set up to steer the process. Its first task is to draft the Strategy for Reform. Neil Kinnock will chair a Reform Group of Commissioners, which will be heavily involved in the process.

Commissioner Kinnock also announced that as part of this reform process he would be seeking to reform industrial relations procedures within the European Commission, in particular the role of the Trade Unions and the Staff Committee.

On the 20 October 1999 the Commission issued three papers in connection with Commissioner Kinnock's announcement on administrative reform:

• Statement of purpose
• Policy issues
• Task Force: Mission statement

The full text of these papers (in pdf format) can be found on the Commission page The reform of the European Commission. This page, in addition, contains a number of other recent important Commission papers:

• The formation of the Commission

• Code of conduct for Commissioners
• Code of conduct for Commissioners and departments

• The operation of the Commission

• Rules of procedure - 16 September 1999
• Groups of Commissioners
• Internal co-ordination
• Procedures for appointment in grades A1 and A2

• Designing Tomorrow's Commission

• The report of the screening exercise - 7 July 1999

Further information and reactions to the report can be seen in:
(long-term access to these links cannot be guaranteed)

European Sources Online: European Voice:
	14.10.99:	Kinnock faces first major battle with staff unions
BBC news online:
	19.10.99:	Kinnock takes on Euro unions
International Herald Tribune:
	http://www.iht.com/IHT/TODAY/WED/IN/eu.2.html

Links to a selection of non-English sources can be accessed via POLIS: Polis: Homepage

Further information on The new European Commission is in Questions and Answers.

Ian Thomson
Executive Editor, European Sources Online
Compiled: 23 October 1999
Last revised: 12 November 1999

On the 19 October 1999 Neil Kinnock, Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for Administrative Reform, outlined a set of measures and timetable as part of the new Commission's key priority of reforming its own administrative processes. This 'route map for reform' outlines a timetable for the Commission's reform agenda, the key date being the launching of a Reform Strategy Programme in February 2000.