EU member states negotiate cuts to administrative and staff costs

EU member states are negotiating potential cuts to administrative costs, including staff salaries and building expenses, for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). An internal document from the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU indicates that a majority of the 27 member states support reducing these costs to generate savings.

A central dispute exists regarding the total size of the common budget. A group led by Germany is seeking to cut several hundred billion euros from the 2 trillion euro proposal submitted by the European Commission in July 2025. In contrast, a bloc including Italy and Poland advocates for increased funding for agriculture and less wealthy regions.

The European Commission has proposed hiring 2,500 additional officials over the next seven years, a plan that has met resistance from nine countries, led by Austria. These nations argue that expanding the Brussels workforce is inconsistent with the domestic fiscal cuts being implemented by many member states. Administrative expenses are projected to reach 118 billion euros between 2028 and 2034, representing approximately 6% of the total budget.