Expensive President of the European Council?

Dignitaries are expensive, as we all know. Open Europe quotes the Belgian daily De Netto with regard to the president of the European Council.




Open Europe press summary 19 November 2009: New EU President to cost taxpayers €6 million a year

Belgian daily De Netto reports that, according to a document from the European Council, the new EU President will earn €350,000 a year, taxed at 25 percent, and will have a staff of 22 press officers, assistants and administrators, in addition to 10 security agents. The paper notes that this is double the current salary of the Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, who is the current frontrunner for the post. It also notes that it is significantly more than US President Barack Obama’s salary, which is around $400,000 a year or €269,000. The total cost of the President and his team will be €6 million a year.

Compare €6m



BBC News: Cost of Royal Family rises £1.5m (29 June 2009):

The total cost to the public of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5m to £41.5m in the 2008/9 financial year.

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The £41m total does not include security provided by the police and Army or the ceremonial duties performed by the Armed Forces.

The cost of Royal travel, which is also paid by the taxpayer, increased by £300,000 from £6.2m to £6.5m.

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Who elected them?



Ralf Grahn



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