Calling for savings in EU Institutions

For the second year running, the European Commission is urging all EU institutions to show the utmost restraint in drafting their estimates for their administrative budget in 2013.

Today EU financial programming and budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski sent a letter to the heads of all EU institutions on 23 January 2012 stating that numerous Member States are operating cuts in their administrative expenditure due to the current economic and financial crisis. "Therefore", adds Commissioner Lewandowski, "it is of the utmost importance to continue to demonstrate that the EU institutions are acting responsibly in the current climate of austerity".

The Commission wants to lead by example: in 2013, it intends to reduce the number of posts in its establishment plans by 1%, as the first step towards a 5% staff reduction over the next five years. This is in line with its proposal for the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) calling for a cut across all EU institutions.

In 2012, the Commission voluntarily froze its own administrative expenditure, i.e. a 0.0% nominal increase compared to the 2011 budget. This was achieved by significantly reducing expenditure linked to buildings, information and communication technology, studies, publications, missions, conferences and meetings.

Letter from Commissioner Lewandowski: Establishment of estimates of administrative expenditure of Institutions for the 2013 Draft Budget

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