“Megalomaniacal plan”. Storm over the expensive idea of an EU body. Employees say 'lack of transparency'
The EU body representing local and regional authorities has presented plans for the renovation of its Brussels headquarters worth EUR 49 million (PLN 210 million). However, in his public statements he omitted the design of a new conference room with 450 seats, the cost of which is estimated at EUR 3.6 million (PLN 15,442,000).
Details about the design of the conference center for the Committee of the Regions are included in separate documents obtained by POLITICO.
No mention of the center in internal documents sparked criticism from trade unions and employees, who say this shows a lack of transparency.
The size and equipment of the center – the cost of which is part of the EUR 49 million (PLN 210,181,000) – suggest that it would serve as a room where the institution's 329 members could participate in plenary sessions, held up to six times a year.
According to the documents, the conference center would include interpreter booths, VIP areas and press facilities. The documents indicate that it would ensure the “independence of the institution from the buildings of the European Parliament and the European Commission.” Currently, the Committee of the Regions' plenary sessions are held in Parliament or in the Commission's Charlemagne building.
Workers and trade unions say the plans were not transparent enough. An official from an EU trade union, who wished to remain anonymous, described the project as “megalomaniacal plan”.
A spokesman for the Committee of the Regions said management prepared and shared details about the center with the Committee on Finance and Administrative Affairs, which handles administration and budgets at the Committee, and discussed them with the staff committee on March 25 — the same day POLITICO contacted the institution for comment.
Renovation plans
On Tuesday, the committee's leadership will decide whether to proceed with plans to demolish the lower two floors and inner courtyard of the Bertha von Suttner building (named after the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize), which is next to the European Parliament, as well as the adjacent building (Remorqueur, or REM).
The report, titled 'Building Strategy', suggests the space could generate income by renting it out to other EU institutions at rates of up to €1,400 (PLN 6,000) per half day. Combined with estimated annual savings of $272,000. euro (PLN 1,167,000), resulting from the lack of the need to rent other space, it is expected that the total income and savings from the center will amount to EUR 15.47 million (PLN 66,357,000) over 17 years.
Trade unions expressed concerns about the division of spacepointing to the relatively generous conditions in the new plans for local authority representatives – including offices and meeting rooms – compared to more stringent conditions for staff.
In addition to the renovation costs of EUR 49 million (PLN 210 million), the institution would also have to rent a “temporary buffer building” for two years during construction, which, depending on market availability, would involve an estimated annual cost of EUR 2.8 million (PLN 12 million).
A spokesman said the buildings had reached the end of their useful life and needed to be upgraded to meet fire safety, health, environmental, security and business continuity standards.
The first consultation meeting on renovation and new facilities was held on March 16 with senior management. Trade unions and workers said last week that they had not been consulted even though the project was nearing approval.
The final decision on the plans is to be taken on May 5 by the Bureau of the Committee of the Regions, which brings together the main political groups.
Race for a key position
Design concerns reflect broader tensions within the Committeethat are related to the process of selecting a candidate for the position of Secretary General.
The current Secretary General, Czech official Petr Blizkovsky, who has held the position since December 2019, is nearing the end of his term. The recruitment announcement was published on Monday.
Blizkovsky said he would decide whether to apply once the vacancy notice had been published, while emphasizing his “dedication to the Committee of the Regions” and noting that he had secured “the most favorable discharge from the European Parliament in the history of the Committee of the Regions,” referring to Parliament's positive assessment of the institution's financial management and budget implementation.
Voting in the Chamber during the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions in the European Parliament, Brussels, 20 February 2025.MARTIN BERTRAND / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP / AFP
According to Cristiano Sebastiani, president of the Renouveau & Democratie EU workers' union, the position has significant influence due to its control over administrative and financial resources.
“In the run-up to nomination, this role involves campaigning and making promises,” Sebastiani noted. — This may open the door to procedures that are not always fully transparent.
Tensions also surround contentious hiring practicesincluding the recruitment of a contract employee (temporary employee) for an extremely long, four-year contract. Most such contracts last one to two years. Employee representatives say the candidate is the son of a recently retired internal auditor, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
In response to the allegations, the spokesman argued that the recruitment “was carried out in full compliance with the Staff Regulations and internal regulations”, including standard assessment procedures and conflict of interest checks. He added that a longer contract ensures continuity and responds to calls for greater predictability in human resources.
