The budget of the Council of the European Union
The Council budget is part of the General Budget of the EU, of which it makes up around 0.5 %. This amounts to some 8 % of the total administrative expenditure of all EU institutions.
- The Council's budget for 2009 is EUR 602,9 million. General staff expenditure for the 3 200 employees working within the General Secretariat accounts for 55 % of the budget.
- The Council organises more than 4.500 official meetings a year. The direct cost of these meetings (travel cost of the delegations and interpreting costs) amounts to 21 % of the total budget.
- Expenditure relating to the buildings and infrastructure amounts to 9 %, while computer systems, equipment and furniture amount to another 6 %.
- The Council's budget also provides the financing of expenditure arising out of the institution's performance of its specific missions in the framework of ESDP/CFSP. This covers 6 % of the budget.
The Council's budget process usually begins in January with a proposal from the Secretary-General, regarding priority objectives and the required resources for the following year. On this basis, the "estimate of revenue and expenditure" of the Council is established and submitted to the Council.
The Council includes its position on the Secretary-General's budget proposal in the draft budget of the European Union.Once the budget procedure has been completed, the President of the European Parliament declares the EU budget, which contains a section regarding the Council, to be finally adopted.