EU member states are demanding a radical simplification and reduction of EU bureaucracy, including the European Commission. Their unified position, outlined in a draft document for the next seven-year EU budget, insists that the Brussels administration undergo the same “optimization” that the EU demands of other policy areas, Euractiv reports.
Demand for “Budgetary Discipline”
The draft joint position from the Council of the EU calls for “budgetary discipline” across all EU bodies, including the European Parliament and the European Commission. The key message is that the spending plan after 2028 must not contain “excessive buffers.”
This demand comes in response to the European Commission’s recent proposal to allocate €118 billion for administrative costs within the overall €2 trillion budget. This marks a sharp increase compared to the €82 billion allocated in the current budget cycle, raising concerns among national governments that are themselves forced to implement austerity measures.
Artificial Intelligence Versus EU Bureaucracy
Governments believe administrative burdens can and should be reduced through the use of modern technology. The document states: “Enhanced simplification efforts across all policy areas… as well as the implementation of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, should lead to a reduction in the administrative burden and corresponding savings.”
Diplomats propose that all EU bodies, departments, and agencies conduct “regular reviews of their administrative expenditure.” Specific attention is focused on improving the efficiency of cooperation in IT, cybersecurity, and even office building management.
New Tasks, Old Resources
The conflict is particularly apparent regarding the hiring of new personnel. The Commission requested funding for 2,500 additional civil service posts.
However, judging by internal meetings, Brussels will likely have to tighten its belt. Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin informed staff that the scheme of “new tasks, no new resources” is likely to continue. He hinted that only departments demonstrating success in the ongoing “Large-Scale Review,” an initiative to modernize internal working processes, would receive additional funding.
Commission Secretary-General Ilze Juhansone publicly questioned established working methods at the EU headquarters (the Berlaymont building). She posed a sharp question regarding efficiency: “We do so many things simply because we have done them [forever]… Why do we need that 25-page report when we know nobody will read it?”
NEWSROOM IN notes that discontent over the bloated EU budget and administrative expenses is not solely a reaction to recent crises. This demand is part of a broader trend aimed at “simplification” and “optimization” across the Brussels institutions. In 2023, European governments already insisted on radical cuts to administrative spending, urging the European Commission to tighten its belt.