The Daily Telegraph reports “Britain is set to challenge European Union salaries after the number of its most senior officials, earning up to £180,000, rose to 100 at a time of deep cuts to national public sector budgets.” Read the article here.

According to the Daily Telegraph there are 100 Commission Director Generals whereas a target ceiling for the top post was set at 87.

To recall, all European Commissioners and at least 300 EU officials receive a higher salary than David Cameron – £142,500 (€170,000).

It is important to recall that, last November, the European Commission proposed raising the salaries of 44,500 EU civil servants by 3.7%. The Council adopted, a regulation adjusting, with effect from 1 July 2009, the remuneration and pensions of the EU civil servants. It has decided to amend the Commission’s proposal “in light of the financial and economic crisis.” The Member States agreed, therefore, to cut the proposed wage increase from 3.70 percent to 1.85 percent. However, the European Commission decided to bring an action for annulment before the ECJ against the Council decision reducing to 1.85% the salary increase of the EU civil servants, including ECJ judges. This is absolutely ludicrous particularly at a time of financial crisis where several member states have been applying pay freezes to their civil servants.