EU officials have received yet another salary hike, marking the sixth increase since early 2022, according to Bild.
This year alone, their salaries jumped by 7.2%, driven by inflation and rising living costs in Brussels and Luxembourg. Adjustments for the bloc’s roughly 40,000 employees are scheduled for January and July, with a retroactive 3% increase applied from January.
Salary Boosts Across the Board
The EU Commission’s internal paper reveals that an additional 4.1% raise will apply retroactively from July, bringing the total increase for 2023 to 7.2%. These pay hikes are estimated to cost €16.6 million for active officials and €3.8 million for pensioners, offset by cuts elsewhere in the EU’s €166 billion annual budget.
At the lowest salary tier, employees will see a €242 monthly increase—from €3,361 in late 2023 to €3,603 by July 2024. Meanwhile, those at the top pay scale will enjoy an increase of €1,726, bringing their monthly earnings to €25,685. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen leads the pack, with her base salary jumping by €2,311 to €34,412 per month.
Von der Leyen’s Earnings Top €40,000 Monthly
On top of her base pay, von der Leyen receives tax-free foreign allowances (15% of her salary) and additional perks based on her family situation, pushing her total income beyond €40,000 per month. By contrast, the average gross income for full-time workers in Germany stands at just under €4,500.
The salary boost comes as von der Leyen recently secured re-election as EU Commission President in July, garnering 401 votes. While 287 MPs opposed her and 15 abstained, she surpassed her 2019 tally of 383 votes in favor.
