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QUAESTORS' QUARTERLY
Issue 7
QUAESTORS'
Quarterly
Issue 7
Spring 2017
ELISABETH MORIN-CHARTIER CATHERINE BEARDER
VLADIMIR MANKA ANDREY KOVATCHEV KAROL KARSKI
Dear Colleagues,
In our daily parliamentary work as Members,
we also have to manage an increasingly busy
First of all I would like to extend a big ‘Thank
office environment, often under stressful
you!’ to all Members for supporting the work
conditions. This can sometimes lead to
of the Quaestors over the past 2 ½ years and
tension between Members and assistants. As
for electing us in January to serve until the
Chair of the advisory committee on
end of this parliamentary term. Following the
harassment complaints between Members
election of our former fellow Quaestor,
and assistants, we sent all Members a leaflet
Bogusław Liberadzki, as Vice-President, we
at the beginning of the year outlining some
are delighted to welcome our new colleague,
steps that can help to manage the office
Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER
Vladimír Maňka, to the College of Quaestors.
environment in an optimal manner to avoid
Chair-in-Office of the Quaestors
potential conflict and to deal with it if it
For the most part, the distribution of
arises. Together with the College of
portfolios will remain the same as before.
Quaestors, I would urge you to read it and
However, a full list is laid out in this
keep it as a reference.
newsletter for your information. Feel free to
address any matters or problems you have
I wish you good luck with your work in the
concerning these areas of responsibility to
second half of this mandate and pledge our
the relevant Quaestor or the secretariat.
commitment to helping to resolve any issues
you may have with your working
During our 2 ½ year term in office we will also
IN THIS ISSUE
environment.
be looking at increasing available office
Division of competences
space, adapting the restaurant facilities to
the needs of Members, creating more salons
Internalisation of the drivers’ service
for private functions / events, refurbishing
the Members’ restaurant in the Churchill
New working lunch options (Meet & Eat)
building, re-opening the canteen in the
Salvador de Madariaga building, improving
Learn.MEP
acoustics, comfort and layout in the canteens
in both Brussels and Strasbourg, further
MEPs’ Portal on Financial and Social
strengthening security and implementing the
Entitlements
new, internalised drivers’ service.
QUAESTORS' QUARTERLY | Issue 7
2
Division of competences
Elisabeth MORIN-CHARTIER
Individual requests to payments of parliamentary allowances and reimbursement of
EPP, FR
expenses (Articles 5, 6, 17, 31, 67 & 72 of Implementing Measures Members’ Statute)
Assistance to disabled Members (Article 30 IMMS)
Derogations concerning number and age of trainees
Members’ restaurants, lounges and bars and use of other catering services
Relations with national and local authorities in Parliament's three places of work
Member of the Bureau Working Group on Buildings, Transport and Green Parliament
Chair of the Advisory Committee dealing with harassment complaints between APAs
and MEPs
Conciliator pursuant to Article 23 of the Implementing measures for the Statute of
Accredited Parliamentary Assistants
Andrey KOVATCHEV
Members’ transport facilities, including car service, the Travel Agency, and facilities
EPP , BG
at Strasbourg and Brussels airports
Sports centres situated on Parliament’s premises in Brussels and Strasbourg
Reception facilities for visitors´ groups
Telecommunication and information technology (including television facilities)
Members’ language and computer courses
Contacts with Former Members' Association
Member of the Bureau Working Group on Information and Communication Policy
Security issues on Parliament's premises relating to individual Members (including
Vladimír MAŇKA
the implementation of the Bureau rules governing the smoking ban)
S&D, SK
Members' facilities in EP information offices
Relations with Political Groups and Non-Attached Members - rules concerning
Intergroups and use of Parliament's premises
Relations with the Ombudsman and the ECJ
Mobility
External services in Parliament’s premises (shops, banks etc.)
Member of the Bureau Contact Group for the House of European History
Member of the Bureau ad-hoc WG on security-related measures and policies
Member of the Advisory Committee dealing with harassment complaints between
APAs and MEPs
Catherine BEARDER
Cultural and artistic events sponsored by Members
ALDE, UK
Artistic Committee (Chair)
Contacts with Former Members' Association
Use by Members of Parliament's library and document management
Member of High-level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity
Member of the Bureau Working Group on ICT Innovation Strategy
Member of the Advisory Committee dealing with harassment complaints between
APAs and MEPs
Karol Adam KARSKI
Services for Members (Medical Service, European schools & crèche)
ECR, PL
Office Equipment for Members
Use by Members of Parliament's audio visual facilities
Rules governing media and non-media representatives on Parliament's premises
Central register and attendance lists in the Chamber, committee and group rooms
Technical aspects of the lobbyists’ register, long-term visitors' access
Mail department and print shop
Member of the Bureau Contact Group for the House of European History
QUAESTORS' QUARTERLY
Issue 7
Internalisation of the drivers’
New working lunch options
It should be recalled that the catalyst for
service
internalisation of the service was the
(Meet & Eat)
security risk as well as concerns about
the working conditions. Other
Since the beginning of this year, a new
advantages include more flexibility in
Following a decision of the Bureau in
catering service is available inside
adjusting to periods of high and low
April 2016 to internalise Parliament’s
meeting rooms and Members’ offices in
demand, a broader linguistic skill base,
drivers’ service, Parliament (DG INLO)
Brussels and Strasbourg. The “Meet &
better social protection, access to
has been busy recruiting 110 drivers
Eat” formula consists of several
Parliament’s services and the possibility
(more than before) through a thorough
attractive ready-to-eat menus provided
to lease a more modern and
and objective series of tests.
in individual, lightweight and recyclable
environmentally friendly vehicle fleet.
Approximately 20% of the new recruits
packages.
had been previously employed by the
external service provider and
successfully passed the requirements for
the new service. 14 nationalities are now
represented in the new service, which
fully took over the operation this month.
In addition, it has already been
announced (se
e Quaestors’ Notice
7/2017) that Members may use the new
car service (sharing the vehicles) to
travel from Brussels to Strasbourg and
back during plenary weeks.
In case “Meet & Eat” is ordered for a
meeting, Members are informed that
catering staff must be allowed access
into the room for discreet clearing and
cleaning fifteen minutes before the
official end of the meeting.
HOW TO APPLY?
The new drivers are recruited on a one-
The application form must be sent
year contract, renewable once before
to the main catering service provider
CONTACT THE CAR RESERVATION
being offered a more permanent
CENTRE
at:
contract as long as they have performed
well in their job. As Parliament officials,
restauration-reservation-
Phone: 41000
a high quality, polite and professional
xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx
Email:
service is henceforth central in the job
in Brussels
carreservation@europarl.europa.
description. In addition to their basic
eu
salary, they will receive an additional
Or
at the counter o
f the Car
allowance in compensation for irregular
Reservation Centre (SPINELLI,
hours and thus Members should no
restauration-reservation-
main entrance, ground floor)
longer tip the drivers.
xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx
in Strasbourg
QUAESTORS' QUARTERLY | Issue 7
4
internal rules and the Members’ Code of
- Salary, medical expenses, insurance
Conduct.
cover, transitional allowances and
pension rights;
The Quaestors also recently clarified
interpretation of the rules concerning
- Allowances for accredited and local
computer courses pursuant to Article 8
assistants, service providers and
of the Rules on Language and Computer
trainees;
Courses for Members in order that
Members can attend computer courses
- General expenditure allowance;
covering various kinds of software
- Travel and subsistence expenses;
applications that they use in the
performance of their duties
(Quaestors’
- Expenses linked to external language
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Notice 02/2017).
and computer courses expenses;
To download the application form
- Bank accounts.
and for more information on “Meet
In order to guarantee the highest
& Eat” and other catering services,
standards of confidentiality and the
please consult:
respect of the relevant rules on data
http://www.inloweb.ep.parl.union.e
protection, information on any financial
u/inloweb/cms/Accueil/Service/Resta
matter of Members will be provided to
urants/Services
Members only, unless otherwise
indicated by Members via a power of
ACCESS THE ONLINE CATALOGUE
attorney.
Learn.MEP
For access to the online catalogue of
CONTACT THE MEPS’ PORTAL
courses and registration forms, click
Front Desk:
Parliament’s services have recently
he
re: learn.MEP
launched an e-catalogue for learning and
Brussels - ASP 03H352 (former cash
development opportunities for Members
office)
of the European Parliament. There are
MEPs’ Portal on Financial and
Strasbourg - LOW 02T050 (former
currently 36 learning activities on offer
Social Entitlements
cash office)
that are tailor-made for Members and
provided on request. For many of the
E-mail: xxx.xxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
courses Members may be accompanied
Are you already using the Members’
Phone: 44422 (inside Parliament)
by their assistants.
portal on financial and social
+32 2 28 44422 (outside Parliament -
A brochure outlining all learning
entitlements ?
Brussels)
opportunities developed especially for
At the end of last year a new single point
the needs of the Members has been
+33 388 164422 (outside Parliament
of service, integrating all matters related
distributed to all Members’ offices.
- Strasbourg)
to MEPs’ financial and social formalities,
Copies are also available at the One-
became fully operational, as a
Stop Shop for Members and the
complement to the online version (e-
Members’ Portal.
portal) that has been available since the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
All coaching sessions are offered by in-
beginning of 2014. This new service was
house experts or specialists recruited by
set up with the goal of simplifying and
This Newsletter is produced by the
Parliament for this task. In addition to
reducing the administrative burden for
Secretariat of the Bureau and
the traditional language and IT based
Members following the decision of the
Quaestors. For further information
courses, Members are able to follow
Bureau of 26 October 2015.
on any of the articles in this edition,
personalised audio-visual and social
please contact one of the Quaestors
It provides a single contact point for
media training, legislative drafting,
responsible or the Secretariat at the
dealing with all financial formalities in
negotiation and legislative conciliation,
following address:
relation with the Members’ Statute and
library and database research as well as
its implementing measures. The Service
xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx
election monitoring. Furthermore
is staffed with experienced desk officers
practical courses are offered to assist
Link to the website of the Quaestors
from DG Finance familiar with the
new Members in understanding the
following administrative matters:
labyrinth of financial and social rights,