The European Commission has adopted today a Decision providing practical guidance for staff of the European Commission with regard to their participation in the European elections campaign in 2019. The guidelines are based on the already existing principles spelled out in the Staff Regulations – the rules under which the Commission manages its human resources, agreed by the European Parliament and the Member States in the Council.
Today’s rules also complement the practical arrangements for Commissioners participating in the European elections in May, that the Commission issued earlier this month. According to today’s Decision and in line with the already existing rules, Commission staff is allowed to participate in the election campaign provided that three general conditions are respected.
Firstly, staff members must make a clear, public distinction between their private capacity as campaigners and their official capacity as staff members. Secondly, they must not use Commission resources for the purpose of the campaign. Finally yet importantly, staff must take particular care to comply with confidentiality rules, and abstain from any action or public expression of opinion that might reflect adversely on their position.
More specifically, staff members who have been selected and standing as candidates shall inform the Commission which will have to decide on the necessary adaptations to working arrangements – using annual leave, part-time or leave on personal grounds as necessary – as any involvement in the political campaign should happen outside working hours. In particular, candidates will, as a general rule, be required to apply for leave on personal grounds for a period of one month before the polling day.
Staff members not standing for election must pursue their political activities in a strictly private capacity, and carry them out outside working hours, at weekends or during annual leave. At the same time, Commission staff working on initiatives to encourage participation in European elections in general can do so without taking a special leave. This is because those activities are not considered to be linked to any political party, candidate or organisation.
The full guidance are available online here.
