Politico reported on the refusal of nine EU countries to hire 2.5 thousand officials in the EC

About nine European Union (EU) countries considered it inappropriate for the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to hire 2.5 thousand officials to expand the administrative headquarters. This was reported by the Politico newspaper on February 20, citing sources.

"The European Commission should abandon plans to add about 2.5 thousand employees and increase administrative costs, especially at a time when capitals are being asked to tighten their belts," the article says.

At the same time, the initiative to refuse to hire employees was signed by representatives of such countries as Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands. According to the newspaper, the initiative will entail an increase in administrative costs of about €1.4 billion to pay for the work of new employees. It is noted that such EC decisions "do not correspond to reality" within the framework of reducing bureaucracy and increasing competitiveness.

In addition, Claudia Bauer, the Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and the Family, noted in a letter to the EC that at a time when national governments are under financial pressure, a significant increase in the number of administrative positions in the EU could send the "wrong signal" to citizens.

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Parliament has begun discussing two votes of no confidence in the head of the European Commission.

On the eve of the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the EC is acting in the interests of Ukraine, not the EU member states. According to him, if the EU were "functioning normally," the European Commission would have to call on Kiev now to stop political blackmail against Hungary.

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