The EUObserver reports: “Nato defence ministers on Thursday (14 October) agreed to plans put forward by secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen to "cut fat" by reducing the number of headquarters and staff. The money saved is to be used for new capabilities such as cyber defence and an anti-ballistic missile shield.” According to the Euobserver Nato leaders will agree, next month, at a summit in Lisbon to reduce the number of headquarters from 11 to seven as well as the staff employed from 13,000 to 9,000. Moreover, NATO agencies will be also reduced from 14 to 3.

Brussels should do the same. It could start by scrapping the Strasbourg seat. All MEPs, their staff, EU officials and documents must endure a monthly travel from Brussels to Strasbourg. The “travel circus” costs taxpayers over €200 million a year. However, according to the Treaties, the main seat of the European Parliament is in Strasbourg and to change that would require a unanimous agreement by all EU Member States. Everybody else knows that the Strasbourg seat is there just to please France but the other Member States have been showing no interest in the issue. The concern could have been brought up at the last IGC but no Member State bothered to do it, ignoring the 1.2 million signatures gathered on a petition to scrap the Strasbourg seat.

I am sure Brussels could also survive with less civil servants. There are over 44,500 EU civil servants who enjoy high salaries, for instances a senior director general may receive over €17,000 per month, plus all the benefits such as family allowances, expatriation allowance, installation allowance, travel expenses, removal expenses, daily subsistence allowance as well as low taxes. At a time where several member states are cutting their budgets and have been applying pay freezes to their civil servants, Brussels instead of reducing is, in fact, increasing the number of staff. There was an increase on the European Parliament staff due to the “increased workload” under the Lisbon treaty. Moreover, Brussels is demanding more posts for the EEAS which will cost an additional EUR 29,2 million. It is important to note that the salaries of the EU diplomats and administrative staff will vary between €52,000 and €216,000 per year. Some will earn more than David Cameron and William Hague.

The Commission has proposed in the EU Draft Budget 2011 for Administration (Heading 5) commitment appropriations of €8,255 million (£7,017 million) and payment appropriations of €8,256 million (£7,018 million) which represents an increase of €346 million (£295 million) in commitment appropriations, €348 million (£296 million) in payment appropriations and 4.4% comparing to the 2010 Budget. The Commission has allocated €13, 954 for its Members and €2, 257, 461 for Staff Remuneration and normal entitlement.

There is an endless list of EU agencies. The Commission has proposed €1,017,256 for  decentralised agencies” in the EU Draft Budget 2011. For instances, Institute for Gender Equality (€7,530), the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (€20,210), European Asylum Support Office (€8,000) European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (€20,000). These are just few examples. Brussels should also consider amending the numerous regulations to reduce the number of its agencies.