2008 budget: other sections

PURPOSE: to present the preliminary draft budget (PDB) 2008 for the other institutions.

CONTENT: the Commission has presented its 2008 preliminary draft budget which takes account of the forecasts of the other institutions of the European Union (except Section III: Commission).

The document includes the following budget provisions: EUR 3.409 billion to cover the Commission’s administrative expenditure and EUR 2.725 billion for the other institutions (an increase of 5.67% compared to 2007). A margin of EUR 121.3 million is left in the Commission’s PDB.

The breakdown of Heading 5 of the PDB 2008 is as follows :

-      46.5% for the Commission (excluding pensions), that is EUR 3.4 billion;

-      37.1% for the other institutions, EUR 2.7 billion including:

• European Parliament : EUR 1.436 billion;
• Council : EUR 598.8 million;
• Court of Justice: EUR 301.7 million;
• Court of Auditors: EUR 134.5 million;
• Economic and Social Committee: EUR 117.1 million;
• Committee of the Regions: EUR 73.14 million;
• European Ombudsman: EUR 8.53 million;
• European Data Supervisor: EUR 5.58 million.

- 14.4% for pensions totalling EUR 1.057 billion;

- 2% for European schools amounting to EUR 144 million.

Total: EUR 7.335 billion for heading 5. An increase of 393 million compared to 2007.

It should be noted that in 2008, the evolution of posts is again strongly influenced by the needs of enlargement. In total 860 posts are requested by the Commission, complemented by 30 external staff. However the increase in the establishment plan is limited to 785 posts, following the conversion of some posts into contract agents.