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Multinational staffing and organizational functioning in the Commission of the European Communities

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  • Michelmann, Hans J.

Abstract

Staffing the Commission civil service with nationals from all nine European Community member states is necessary for pragmatic and political reasons, but multinational staffing also creates serious problems for the organization. Requirements for nationality balance in the Commission civil service have negative repercussions for personnel policy as well as the civil servants' career prospects and morale; nationality-based informal organization often interferes with organizational performance; multinational staffing results in a multilingual civil service and thus creates language and communication problems; the interaction of persons from nine member states creates a potential for nationality-related friction; and civil servants may have divided loyalties to the Commission on the one hand and to their member states on the other. National representation in the ranks is taken most seriously in those Commission units that have important policy concerns. Hence expanding the Commission's powers will increase the saliency of the nationality issue in that organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelmann, Hans J., 1978. "Multinational staffing and organizational functioning in the Commission of the European Communities," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 32(2), pages 477-496, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:intorg:v:32:y:1978:i:02:p:477-496_02
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    Cited by:

    1. Semin Suvarierol, 2009. "Networking in Brussels: Nationality over a Glass of Wine," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 411-435, March.
    2. Morten Egeberg & Andreas Heskestad, 2010. "The Denationalization of Cabinets in the European Commission," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 775-786, September.
    3. Harald Badinger & Volker Nitsch, 2011. "National Representation in Multinational Institutions: The Case of the European Central Bank," CESifo Working Paper Series 3573, CESifo.
    4. Hartlapp, Miriam & Lorenz, Yann, 2012. "Persönliche Merkmale von Führungspersonal als Politikdeterminante: Die Europäische Kommission im Wandel der Zeit," Discussion Papers, Schumpeter Junior Research Group Position Formation in the EU Commission SP IV 2012-501, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    5. Mareike Kleine, 2013. "Trading Control: National Chiefdoms within International Organizations," Europe in Question Discussion Paper Series of the London School of Economics (LEQs) 9, London School of Economics / European Institute.
    6. Badinger, Harald & Nitsch, Volker, 2014. "National representation in supranational institutions: The case of the European Central Bank," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 19-33.
    7. Semin Suvarierol, 2009. "Networking in Brussels: Nationality over a Glass of Wine," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47, pages 411-435, March.
    8. Morten Egeberg & Andreas Heskestad, 2010. "The Denationalization of "Cabinets" in the European Commission," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48, pages 775-786, September.
    9. Mareike Kleine, 2013. "Trading Control: National Chiefdoms within International Organizations," LEQS – LSE 'Europe in Question' Discussion Paper Series 59, European Institute, LSE.

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