558 



81 



m an cases in which a residence permit Is Issued (activity on behalf 

 of CERN must account for at least 50% of the holder's time), the 

 research worker can be accompanied by his family. In the case of 

 certain persons who are nationals of countries which are not memhers of 

 CERN, a visa may be necessary to enable them to enter Swiss or French 

 territory, but this requirement gives rise to only a few minor 

 problems. 



There is generally no difficulty in obtaining a work permit for 

 spouses, but the situation on the labour market in the Geneva area is 

 relatively depressed at present. 



Where children's education is concerned, things are made easier by the 

 international setting of Geneva, but problems do exist in respect of 

 recognition of diplomas. Difficulty is also encountered with regard to 

 acconmodation, since the number of apartments available in Geneva is 

 relatively small, but CERN rents some apartments which it can place at 

 the disposal of new arrivals for a limited period. 



Within the European Community , moreover, the administrative formalities 

 are simplified, since the question of visas and work permits does not 

 arise. It may, of course, arise in the case of research workers who 

 are nationals of non-Community countries*. 



The problems that remain to be solved are those of the research 

 worker's status and of the conditions under which he returns to his 

 country of origin; no uniform status exists and there is no framework 

 agreement between the Member States of the Community to settle these 

 questions, which consequently are dealt with under bilateral or 

 multilateral agreements between the parties concerned. This is the 

 case, in particular, with the agreement on the promotion and mobility 

 of staff in the field of Thermonuclear Fusion, concluded by all the 

 European States which are participating in that programme and the 

 European Community. Under that agreanent, each party to it is prepared 

 to receive staff seconded from the other parties for the purpose of 

 participating in implementation of the joint project, and the 

 Commission of the European Communities assumes responsibility for 

 expenditure arising from the secondment of such staff (travelling, 

 allowances, etc.). The contract of employment between the seconded 

 staff and their original employers remains In force throughout the 

 period of secondment; likewise, the original employer ensures that the 

 social coverage of his seconded staff continues. The host organization 

 places its equipment, social services and other facilities at the 

 disposal of the seconded staff. 



It should 3lso be noted that the European Economic Community proposed, 

 in the context of its activities for the purpose of stimulating 

 cooperation and scientific and technical exchanges at European level. 



4 This is not the case for JET, third countries (Switzerland, Sweden) having 

 the same advantages as Community Member States. 



