2.  When taking up his duties, the Ombudsman shall give a solemn undertaking before the Court of Justice of the European Communities that he will perform his duties with complete independence and impartiality and that during and after his term of office he will respect the obligations arising therefrom, in particular his duty to behave with integrity and discretion as regards the acceptance, after he has ceased to hold office, of certain appointments or benefits.

Article10

1.  During his term of office, the Ombudsman may not engage in any other political or administrative duties, or any other occupation, whether gainful or not.

2.  The Ombudsman shall have the same rank in terms of remuneration, allowances and pension as a judge at the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

3.  Articles 12 to 15 and Article 18 of the Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities shall apply to the Ombudsman and to the officials and servants of his secretariat.

Article 11

1.  The Ombudsman shall be assisted by a secretariat, the principal officer of which he shall appoint.

2.  The officials and servants of the Ombudsman's secretariat shall be subject to the rules and regulations applicable to officials and other servants of the European Communities. Their number shall be adopted each year as part of the budgetary procedure(*).

(*) A joint statement by the three institutions will set out guiding principles for the number of staff employed by the Ombudsman and the status as temporary or contract staff of those carrying out inquiries.

3. Servants of the European Communities and of the Member States appointed to the Ombudsman's secretariat shall be seconded in the interests of the service and guaranteed automatic reinstatement in their institution of origin.