Typology and Efficacy of Framework Agreements Negotiated Between the European Commission and the Professional and Union Organizations Representing its Staff

Abstract

On the basis that the European Commission has the legal condition of employer of the staff (civil servants and employees) serving it, this work analyzes the collective agreements (called "framework agreements") negotiated between the European Commission and the trade unions (eventually, tiny trade unions) it considers representative of such staff. Surprisingly, they are agreements separately celebrated with the representative trade unions of serving and retired staff. Regarding those affecting to serving staff, the European case-law sustains that they are agreements having contractual efficacy, but not true normative efficacy.