Opportunity and Feasibility of Establishing Common Support Services for EU Agencies

EU decentralised agencies are submitted to some financial and administrative requirements initially established for the EU Institutions (e.g. arising from Staff Regulation, Financial Regulation). Given the size of most of them, a significant proportion of their staff is dealing with administrative tasks. The study aimed at proposing ways to address these issues. Following, among others, a survey among decentralised Agencies, it presents conclusions and recommendations as to : - existing common support services, mainly at Commission's level; - further functional areas suitable for shared services, such as those related to the budgetary process, procurement procedures and legal advice; - and the possible organisation of such shared services for EU Agencies.