1Council Decision (EU) 2026/303 of 8 November 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community with regard to the amendment of Annex II to its Decision No 2019/3, as regards the rules on maternity leave of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat

Council Decision (EU) 2026/303 of 8 November 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community with regard to the amendment of Annex II to its Decision No 2019/3, as regards the rules on maternity leave 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 (TCT) was signed by the Union in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2017/1937 Council Decision (EU) 2017/1937 of 11 July 2017 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Treaty establishing the Transport Community (OJ L 278, 27.10.2017, p. 1). . (2) The TCT was approved on behalf of the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2019/392 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). and entered into force on 1 May 2019. (3) Article 24 of the TCT establishes the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community (the Regional Steering Committee). Pursuant to Article 24(1) of the TCT, the Regional Steering Committee is responsible for the administration of the TCT and is to ensure the proper implementation of the TCT. (4) Pursuant to Article 30 of the TCT, the Regional Steering Committee is to lay down the rules of the Permanent Secretariat (the Secretariat) established by Article 28 of the TCT, in particular for the recruitment, working conditions and geographic equilibrium of the Secretariat’s staff. (5) On 5 June 2019, the Staff Regulations of the Transport Community were adopted as Annex II to Decision No 2019/3 Decision No 2019/3 of the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community (2023/553) of 5 June 2019 relating to: the adoption of rules on the recruitment, working conditions and geographic equilibrium of the staff of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community; the adoption of the Staff Regulations of the Transport Community; the adoption of vacancy notices for the Director and the Deputy Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community (OJ L 73, 10.3.2023, p. 37). of the Regional Steering Committee. The rules on maternity leave of the staff members of the Secretariat (the rules on maternity leave) are set out in Section 10.4 of Annex II. (6) The Regional Steering Committee intends to adopt a decision amending the rules on maternity leave. The amendment of those rules is necessary for the proper functioning of the Secretariat. (7) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Regional Steering Committee with regard to the amendment of the rules on maternity leave as such amendment will have legal effects.

(8) The position of the Union within the Regional Steering Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decision, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on behalf of the Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community (the Regional Steering Committee) with regard to the amendment of the rules on maternity leave of the staff members of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community set out in Annex II (Staff Regulations of the Transport Community) to Decision No 2019/3 of the Regional Steering Committee shall be based on the draft decision of the Regional Steering Committee attached to this Decision. Minor changes to the draft decision may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union in the Regional Steering Committee without further decision by the Council.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. Done at Brussels, 8 November 2024. For the Council The President Bóka J. DRAFT DECISION No …/2024 OF THE REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE TRANSPORT COMMUNITY of … on the amendment of Annex II to 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, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Sole Article

In Annex II (Staff Regulations of the Transport Community) to Decision No 2019/3 of the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community of 5 June 2019, Section 10.4 is replaced by the following: 10.4. Maternity Leave (a) Pregnant women shall be entitled, upon presentation of a medical certificate, to 20 weeks of maternity leave with full pay. The leave shall start not earlier than six weeks before the expected date of confinement shown in the certificate and end not earlier than 14 weeks after the date of confinement. In the event of a caesarean section, multiple or premature birth or the birth of a child with a disability or serious illness, the duration shall be 24 weeks. Premature birth for the purposes of this provision is a birth taking place before the end of the 34th week of pregnancy. In cases of serious danger either for the mother or the child, maternity leave may commence earlier, upon presentation of a medical certificate recommending earlier maternity leave. In all cases, maternity leave shall start at the latest on the actual date of confinement. (b) The entitlement to maternity leave is retained in full if the child dies at birth or soon after. (c) Annual leave may be taken immediately, without interruption, after the maternity leave. (d) The staff member may return to work before the end of her maternity leave, provided that she submits a medical certificate showing that she is fit to carry out her duties.. Done at …, … For the Regional Steering Committee The President