The activity is the position (situation) of the official assigned to a post corresponding to his grade and performing the duties provided for in that post.

The normal operating position (PNA) is a mechanism that enables official of the State to carry out tasks corresponding to those defined by the special status of his home body in a ministry department (or public institution) other than his home ministry.

A State official with a normal working position may work in the following services:

• Services of its managing department (central services, decentralized services or services under national jurisdiction)
• Public institutions under the supervision of its managing ministry
• Services of another department (headquarters, decentralized services or services under national jurisdiction)
• Public establishments under the supervision of another ministry
• Services of independent administrative authorities which are not incorporated.

The public establishments concerned may be:

• Public administrative institutions (EPAs)
• Public scientific, cultural and professional institutions (EPSCP)
• Local public educational institutions (EPLE)
• Public industrial and commercial establishments (EPICs) provided that such establishments may employ civil servants.

The NAP allows the State official to perform his duties in all government departments and public institutions, without having to ask for secondment.

Allocation to an NAP may take place at the request of the official or his home administration (e.g. in the context of a transfer of a department from one department to another).

When it is at the request of the official who has applied for a post, his home administration checks that his future duties correspond to the tasks defined by the particular status of his home body. If this is the case, the NAP allocation can be pronounced.

Administrations shall assess the similarity of the functions on the basis of Interdepartmental Directory of Government Trades (RIME).

Where an official is assigned to a public service or establishment under a ministry other than his home ministry, the assignment shall be decided by the competent authority for the management of his home ministry after obtaining the assent of the host administration.

And when the assignment is made to a public establishment, the ministry responsible shall be informed in advance.

When an official is posted outside its home ministry, he can only hold the job for one 3-year term.

At the request of the host administration, the assignment may be renewed, per 3-year period.

Four months before the end of the three-year period, the host administration shall inform the official and his home administration of its decision whether or not to renew his assignment.

Where the host administration decides not to renew the assignment at the end of a period of three years, the official shall be reinstated in its home ministry, if necessary in excess.