Commission launches management reshuffle

The European Commission yesterday set in train the most far-reaching reshuffle of its senior management personnel in its history and pledged to end the system of "flagging", under which some states have retained control of key directorates.

The result means that for the first time in decades a Frenchman will not be heading the Agriculture directorate and the Irish will, for the time being, have no director-general or any automatic expectation to one.

Ireland's most senior official, Mr David O'Sullivan, is now serving as chef de cabinet to the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, and will not be automatically replaced by an Irish person as director-general for education and culture.

The Irish Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr David Byrne, also loses his current director-general, a German, Mr Horst Reichenbach, who moves to Personnel, and is replaced by a British official, Mr Robert Coleman, previously in charge of Transport.

Announcing the changes, which had been signalled by Mr Prodi as part of his reform agenda before he took office, the Commissioner for Internal Reform, Mr Neil Kinnock, said that the promotion system to the top two grades in the Commission, A1 and A2, would now reflect primarily merit and expertise.

But, attempting to allay fears in the smaller member-states, he acknowledged the intention also to maintain a "broad geographical balance".

Officials on these grades would in future not serve in specific posts for more than five years, he said, adding that a programme of affirmative action would also be prepared to increase the number of women at such levels.

External assessors would take part in the appointments process, starting with the five vacant jobs of director-general which will be advertised publicly.

Mr Kinnock also announced that commissioners will voluntarily give up some of the rights associated with their status as diplomats. In particular they will no longer avail of VAT-free purchases of tobacco or alcohol although they retain their diplomatic immunity.