The European Commission is urging all the EU institutions to show the utmost restraint in drafting their estimates for their administrative budget in 2013. This is the second year running in asking to the EU institutions to act responsibly in the current climate of austerity. Thus the Commission wants to lead by example: in 2013, it intends to reduce the number of posts in its establishment plans by 1%.

The EU financial programming and budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski sent a letter to the heads of all EU institutions stating that numerous Member States are operating cuts in their administrative expenditure due to the current economic and financial crisis. In its letter, he therefore stresses the utmost importance to continue to demonstrate that the EU institutions are acting responsibly in the current climate of austerity.

In 2013, as the first step towards a 5% staff reduction over the next five years, the Commission intends to reduce the number of posts in its establishment plans by 1%. According to the Commissioner, this is in line with its proposal for the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) calling for a cut across all EU institutions. The European Economic and Social Committee already highlighted in July 2011 that the EU should take measures within the 2014-2020 EU Budget to reduce administrative burden.

Bearing in mind that Administrative expenditure (functioning costs of the EU institutions) represents about 5.8% of the total EU budget, in 2012, the European Commission froze its administrative expenditure due to the current economic and financial crisis. Within the 5.8% of administrative expenditure the Commission's share is about 40% as compared to other EU institutions. Therefore, the overall evolution of administrative expenditure depends also on budgetary requirements from other EU institutions.