The 2026 EU budget allocates more than €13 billion to European public administration.

Omissions

• The precise figure verified (EUR 13,475.2 million) is from the Commission's draft budget for 2026 (presented 4 June 2025); the final adopted 2026 budget agreed with the Council and Parliament in November 2025 may differ by a few hundred million euros, but remains above €13 billion.
• Heading 7 does not cover only 'bureaucracy': it also includes the pensions of retired EU officials and the administrative costs of all institutions (Parliament, Council, Commission, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors, etc.).
• Administrative spending under Heading 7 represents roughly 7% of the 2026 EU budget of €192.8 billion; presenting it in isolation can exaggerate its weight relative to the rest of the budget.
• One source (EP Think Tank briefing, 2025-10-28) describes the Commission's draft budget rather than the final agreed figures.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Parliament Legislative Observatory (OEIL) — document summary of the 2026 draft budgetThe 2026 draft budget sets appropriations at EUR 193.3 billion in ... Heading 7 - European public administration: EUR 13 475.2 million.
• PrimaryCouncil of the European Union — press release 'EU budget for 2026: Council and Parliament reach agreement'The 2026 budget amounts to €192.8 billion in total commitments and €190.1 billion in total payments. ... European public administration.
• PrimaryCouncil of the European Union — working document on the 2026 draft budget (Heading 7 cuts)Heading 7 - European Public Administration. The Council proposes to cut the appropriations related to the Commission's administrative budget ... The margin available under this heading amounts to EUR 190,0 million.
• SecondaryEuropean Parliamentary Research Service — 'The European Union's 2026 Budget' (EP Think Tank)The Commission proposed 2026 EU budget commitments of €193.26 billion, and €192.20 billion in payments. It sets commitment appropriations at €192.77 billion and payments at €190.1 billion (final agreement).