The administration budget covers salaries, pensions, buildings and equipment.
It falls somewhere between the budget of the Mayor of Paris - 7bn euros in 2005 - and the Mayor of London – 4.5bn euros (£3bn) in 2005/6.
The European Commission accounts for about half of the total spending on EU administration.
In 2004, the EU institutions employed about 33,000 officials, of whom about 22,000 worked for the Commission.
The figure is rising by 1,250 in 2005 as a result of enlargement.
Commission staff are guaranteed a job for life, with perks such as allowances for living abroad, children's education and travel home.
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