Council Decision (EU) 2026/523 of 11 February 2026 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community as regards certain changes to the rules on staff salaries of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/523 6.3.2026 COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2026/523 of 11 February 2026 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community as regards certain changes to the rules on staff salaries of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 and Article 100(2), in conjunction with Article 218(9), thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) The Treaty establishing the Transport Community (the ‘TCT’) was approved on behalf of the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2019/392(1) and entered into force on 1 May 2019. (2) The Regional Steering Committee was established by Article 24(1) of the TCT and is responsible for the administration and proper implementation of the TCT. For that purpose it is empowered to adopt decisions in cases provided for in the TCT. (3) Pursuant to Article 30 of the TCT, the Regional Steering Committee is empowered to lay down rules of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat (the ‘Secretariat’) and in particular rules for the working conditions of the Secretariat’s staff. Under Article 35 of the TCT, the Regional Steering Committee is empowered to adopt the budget and the related financial governing rules. (4) The Regional Steering Committee, through adoption by correspondence, is expected to adopt a decision amending the rules on staff salaries of the Secretariat, which are laid down in the Staff Regulations of the Transport Community. (5) The decision of the Regional Steering Committee will have legal effects. Its aim will be to ensure that the salaries of the staff members of the Secretariat remain competitive, which is necessary for the continued proper functioning of the Secretariat. In line with the preliminary discussions between the Contracting Parties to the TCT, it is appropriate that the decision of the Regional Steering Committee be applied retroactively from 1 January 2026, in order to ensure that the annual salary indexation is aligned with the annual adoption cycle of the Transport Community budget. It is therefore appropriate to support the adoption of that decision. (6) It is therefore appropriate to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the Regional Steering Committee with regard to adopting the decision amending the rules on staff salaries of the Secretariat. (7) The position of the Union within the Regional Steering Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision of that committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community shall be based on the draft decision of the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community attached to this Decision. (1) Council Decision (EU) 2019/392 of 4 March 2019 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Treaty establishing the Transport Community (OJ L 71, 13.3.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2019/392/oj). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/523/oj 1/4EN OJ L, 6.3.2026 Article 2 Minor technical changes to the position referred to in Article 1 may be agreed upon without further decision by the Council. Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 11 February 2026. For the Council The President K. KALLAS 2/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/523/ojEN OJ L, 6.3.2026 DRAFT DECISION No 2026/… OF THE REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORT COMMUNITY of … amending Decision No 2019/3 of the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community of 5 June 2019 THE REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORT COMMUNITY, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Transport Community, and in particular Article 24(1) and Article 30 thereof, Whereas: (1) Annex II to Decision No 2019/3 of the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community of 5 June 2019 (‘Decision No 2019/3’) lays down the Staff Regulations of the Transport Community. The salary scale corresponding to the classification of posts in the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat (the ‘Secretariat’) is set out in the Appendix to those Staff Regulations. (2) Section 9.1 of Annex II to Decision No 2019/3 states that the salary scale corresponding to the classification of posts in the Secretariat should be regularly reviewed by the Regional Steering Committee to ensure that it remains competitive and in line with the requirements of the Secretariat. (3) The salary scale provided in the Appendix to the Staff Regulations of the Transport Community has remained unchanged since its adoption in June 2019. The salaries of all staff members should therefore be increased by 20 % from 1 January 2026. That increase should also be reflected in the table headed ‘Indicative monthly salaries of staff members of the Secretariat’ in the Appendix to Annex II to Decision No 2019/3. An annual salary indexation should be introduced, taking place for the first time on 1 January 2027. (4) To ensure that the annual salary indexation aligns with the annual adoption cycle of the Transport Community budget, this decision should apply retroactively from 1 January 2026, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 In Section 9.1 of Annex II to Decision No 2019/3 of the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community of 5 June 2019 (‘Decision No 2019/3’), the following point is added: ‘(c) On 1 January 2027 and annually thereafter, the salary grid in the Appendix to these Staff Regulations shall be adjusted in accordance with the official annual Consumer Price Index, as published by the relevant statistical authority of the Republic of Serbia for the previous year. The salaries of all staff members shall be automatically revised using the corresponding percentage. The annual salary indexation shall be implemented automatically unless otherwise determined by the Steering Committee based on exceptional economic circumstances.’. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/523/oj 3/4EN OJ L, 6.3.2026 Article 2 The Appendix to Annex II to Decision No 2019/3 is replaced by the following: ‘APPENDIX TO THE STAFF REGULATIONS OF THE TRANSPORT COMMUNITY Indicative monthly salaries of staff members of the Secretariat Monthly salary in euro Position (min./max.) 1. Director 9 600 - 12 000 2. Deputy Director 7 200 - 8 400 3. Head of Division 6 600 - 7 440 4. Experts (Coordinators, Desk Officers, Officers) 5 400 - 6 000 5. Assistants 2 400 - 3 000 ’. Article 3 On 1 January 2026, the salaries of all staff members of the Secretariat shall be increased by 20 %. Article 4 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its adoption. It shall apply from 1 January 2026. Done in …, on … For the Regional Steering Committee The President 4/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/523/oj