Organizational Evolution? Revamping the EU DEL Network

Sumeet Thakkar, Mahbuba Abdulloeva, Michael Steffens, Helen Conefrey

USHU aims to avoid speculation and provide you with the facts. 

We regularly hear that “we need more of the EU in the world, not less” – it will be a delicate operation to explain to partner countries, Member States and staff why changes are required to the EU DEL network.  It has taken the EU decades to build trust and programmes with our non-EU partners through the EU DEL network so we must ensure that any changes in our presence on the ground is not interpreted as a down-grading of our relations with partner countries.

USHU strives to assist staff in navigating through the often-contradictory messages received from various sources and provide you with the latest information shared with Trade Unions during the first information session on this topic.

A political agreement between the EEAS and the Commission has been reached to press ahead with changes to the EU DEL Network of 147 Delegations and Offices across the globe. Discussions were long and complex as it took over six months to reach such an agreement. The aim is to ensure a resilient EU DEL network that takes budgetary constraints and geo-political priorities into consideration. 

The joint EEAS/Commission proposal will create a 3–tier system over the next five years with changes to commence as of 2026 and subject to further changes once the next MFF is known:

·      130 Standard EU Delegations (where normal operations occur though unclear as to whether they will be partially downsized)

·      6 Reinforced Delegations (where expertise will be clustered and will serve a number of EU DEL in the region. Additional posts will be made available for this function)

·      11 EU DEL with minimal diplomatic representation. No indication of what minimal is in terms of posts and functions. Meetings will be held with staff in those Delegations shortly to discuss the changes

·      2026 Rotation / Mobility for expatriates will reflect the proposed changes

On taking up office, the new EEAS HRVP promised no EU DEL closures. This commitment has been respected however under the new set-up, certain places of work will suffer downsizing whilst others will expand. Posts will be transferred, staff redeployed and contracts terminated. We learned that up to 130 Local Agent posts will be terminated and USHU will aim to reduce cuts to the minimum and ensure that Local Agents receive the best possible redundancy package. USHU will advocate for cuts though natural wastage (retirements, staff leaving their positions, vacant posts frozen). 

Despite concerted efforts by many Trade Unions to request a formal social dialogue process together with more information and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully towards the decision-making process, staff representatives and Trade Unions were excluded from the internal, inter-institutional deliberations.

USHU welcomes the fact that the EEAS and Commission have finally reached out to Trade Unions and proposed a series of information meetings over the coming weeks

Whatever the prevailing HQ policy narrative, resources are clearly the defining factor. The EEAS suffers from structural underfunding with a budget deficit of an estimated 40M€ per annum and an institutional cap of 2% on budget increases year-on-year.  Costs in EU DEL have soared due to inflationary pressure and savings are required.

USHU requests the administration to provide supporting documents to understand the rationale behind the political agreement, the budgetary implications, the impact on posts and the indicative calendar for implementation.

Any restructuring will have an impact on all staff categories.

Their elected members and staff associations must be involved.