08/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – The Council of the European Union foresees an increase of 20.7 million euros in its own expenditure and that of the European Council in 2022. It provides for a 3.5% increase in the wage bill (+12.3 million euros) and non-wage expenses (+8.4 million) while the recommended increase should be limited to +2%. Out of this 8.4 million package, the institution asserts holding two summits, EU/Africa and EU/Arab League, which will bring together more than 100 delegations each. This expenditure is estimated at 3.5 million euros. Drawing lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and the intrusion of a journalist during an online ministerial meeting, the EU Council intends to invest in a videoconferencing system enabling the secure exchange of classified documents at an estimated cost of 2.4 million euros. More info at: https://bit.ly/3sW53DB (MB)