The European Union is considering reducing personnel costs in order to save on the future long-term budget. Member states of the union, led by Ireland, have referred to this issue in an official document.
Disagreement Over Budget Size
While the 27 EU countries are at odds over the size of the "common money," a group of countries led by Germany is calling for a reduction of several hundred billion euros in the European Commission's proposal for a multiannual financial framework worth 2 trillion euros for the years 2028 to 2034. In contrast, another group of countries including Italy and Poland is advocating for increased spending in agriculture and less developed regions.
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Proposal for Hiring New Staff
Despite these disagreements, the ongoing costs of EU institutions, including staff salaries and building expenses, have been identified as one of the main budget items likely to be reduced. Ireland's presidency of the EU Council has stated that "reductions may be possible, as many countries have questioned the justification for the proposed increase in staff numbers."
The European Commission's proposal addresses the hiring of 2,500 new employees over the next seven years, which has led to dissatisfaction among nine countries led by Austria. According to this proposal, administrative costs between 2028 and 2034 will amount to 118 billion euros, which constitutes about 6 percent of the total budget.
Facing Resistance to Cost Reductions
Ireland is facing strong resistance to cuts in other areas of the budget. In this document, Ireland's presidency has noted that most capitals oppose cuts to agricultural spending and regional payments, considering these to be "important priorities" for their countries.
Ireland has also pointed out that the overall budget may face reductions due to member states' opposition to increasing their national shares and new tax challenges at the EU level. These factors indicate a need to reassess the goals for increased spending.
In a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Dublin will ask the 27 EU representatives which budget items they wish to cut.
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