The monthly salary of an EU commissioner is €25,910 before taxes, which adds up to just over €310,000 a year and is paid for by EU taxpayers.
However, commissioners are also entitled to thousands of euro extra in lucrative allowances, which are calculated on their personal circumstances.
EU commissioners are entitled to a residence allowance, which is equal to 15pc of their salaries. This works out at €3,886 a month and is aimed at covering housing costs while they serve in Europe.
When they begin their new posts in Brussels, they are entitled to an “installation” allowance” that ranges from €839 to €1,411.
When they finish up in office, they are entitled to a “resettlement allowance”.
Travelling expenses
While away from Brussels, commissioners are entitled to have their travel expenses reimbursed and hotel rooms paid for. This includes room service and local taxes that may apply.
Travel expenses for EU commissioners and their family members are reimbursed by the EU. Commissioners are also entitled to a daily subsistence allowance while they are travelling for business, which is around €50 a day.
Separately, commissioners also are entitled to €607 a month in entertainment allowance. This covers meals and other “representation tasks”.
“This allowance correlates with the representative functions of the commissioners,” a spokesperson for the European Commission said.
Family allowances
EU commissioners are also entitled to family and household allowances.
They are entitled to receive around €1,500 in parental leave allowance; €471 a month in dependent child allowance and up to €320 a month in education allowance.
“The family allowances – which all staff may be entitled to – comprise household allowance, dependent child allowance and education allowance and depend on the individual situation,” the spokesperson said.
Once they finish up in their posts, commissioners receive a “transitional” allowance, or what is essentially “goodbye” money.
A commissioner who serves five years in their post will be paid about €13,000 for five months after finishing up in the role.
“The former commissioners may be entitled to family allowances only during the transitional allowance period on the basis of their individual situation,” the spokesperson said.
“They are not entitled to residence and entertainment allowances.”
Tax
The spokesperson said the top rate of tax of 45pc applies to the bulk of the commissioners’ €310,000 annual salaries.
“Commissioners pay a solidarity levy (an additional tax) of 7pc, as well as contributions to social security,” they said.