Key facts
- Most EU countries support cutting personnel costs in the next long-term budget.
- The Irish presidency of the Council of the EU noted support for slashing staff costs.
- The European Commission proposed hiring 2,500 extra officials between 2028 and 2034.
- Administrative costs in the Commission's proposal were set at €118 billion for 2028-2034.
- A group of countries, including Italy and Poland, favor more spending on agriculture and poorer regions.
Most European Union countries are in favor of reducing the bloc's personnel costs, including officials' salaries and building expenses, as part of the upcoming long-term budget for 2028-2034. The Irish presidency of the Council of the EU indicated in a document that a majority of member states support these cuts, questioning the justification for the proposed increase in staff levels at a time when domestic personnel cuts are being made.
The European Commission had proposed hiring an additional 2,500 officials over the next seven years, a move that has fueled discontent among nine countries led by Austria. The Commission's proposal, drawn up in July 2025, allocated €118 billion for administrative costs between 2028 and 2034, representing about 6% of the total €2 trillion budget.
However, significant disagreements persist among the 27 EU governments regarding the overall size of the budget. A group led by Germany is pushing for hundreds of billions of euros in cuts to the Commission's proposal, while a rival camp, including Italy and Poland, advocates for increased spending on agriculture and support for poorer regions. Despite these divisions, administrative costs have emerged as a likely target for reductions.
Ireland is facing resistance to cuts in other areas, with most capitals opposing reductions in agricultural spending and regional payouts, which are described as the "most important priority" for these countries. The Irish presidency also hinted that the overall budget might need to be reduced, as countries are reluctant to increase their national contributions or accept new EU-wide taxes to finance it. The Irish presidency plans to discuss potential budget downsizing with EU ambassadors.