8.5 percent more salary for EU civil servants?

Brussels EU employees can expect a strong increase in wages this year – despite the tight budgetary situation in many member states. The salaries for the staff of the European institutions could rise by around 8.5 percent, as they are based on the inflation trend in Belgium and Luxembourg. Member States are angry. Although the wage increase is legally intended, diplomats complain that it is difficult to explain politically in times of growing financial worries.

Around 40,000 employees expect the increase in wages. It benefits not only the staff of the Commission, but also the employees of other “EU bodies” such as the Parliament and the Council.

The sharp rise in energy and food prices is a financial burden for many Europeans. Citizens’ understanding of the fact that EU staff are shielded from the consequences of inflation with a wage increase is likely to be correspondingly low. A spokesman for the EU Commission pointed out that the member states themselves had agreed to the “annual salary update”.