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The monthly salary of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is around 26971 EUR or 323652 EUR per year.

President of the European Commission is one of the most powerful jobs in the world. It is currently held by Ursula von der Leyen, a German politician and former Minister of Defense. She is also the first woman to have this position. Previously this position was held by Jean-Claude Juncker. But how much does the European Commission President make? And what are other perks of the job? Below is an overview of what public sources reveal.

Monthly salary

Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission is entitled to a ‘basic salary’ of 138% of the top civil service grade. If a Director-General of a DG with a grade 16 step 3 is getting 23031 EUR per month, then Ursula von der Leyen’s salary is approximately 26971 EUR.

For Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this comes to a total of 323652 EUR or 342461 USD per year. As a comparison, the President of the United States, has a nominal yearly salary of 368,000 EUR or 400,000 USD. The Chancellor of Germany is reported to have an annual salary of EUR 242,000 or 262,600 USD.

For information, the salaries of European Commissioners are set at 112.5% of the top European Commission official, while the Vice-President gets 125% and the High Representative – 130%.

Other allowances and deductions

Like any other EU official, the European Commission President is also entitled to a number of “regular” EU allowances, but also incurs some deductions, as listed below.

Entertainment allowance

The Commission President is entitled to the peculiarly named entertainment allowance of 1 418 EUR per month. This allowance is 911 EUR for the Vice Presidents and 608 EUR for regular Commissioners.

Non-remarkable office

The European Commission’s main building is the Berlaymont on Rue de la Loi 200 in Brussels, Belgium. The President’s office is on floor 13, the top floor of the Berlaymont building. The President literally sits on top of the European Commission’s hierarchy.

However, social media pictures reveal that the interior of the office of the European Commission President are surprisingly ascetic compared to offices of most national top-level government officials. Each new EC President gets to choose the artwork and furniture, and that’s about it.

When Ursula von der Leyen took office and announced that she plans to sleep in her office, the world also found out that the office has a 25 sq.m. private room called “a personal retreat” by Commission staff. It also has a shower.

Transition payments after leaving office

If they have served the full five year term, the President of the European Commission and the Commissioners are entitled to ‘transition payments’ for up to three years after leaving their posts. On average these amount to 40-65% of the previous salary. It is reduced if they take up new paid activities during the three year period.

Pension

Commissioners are entitled to an EU pension. It is calculated at 4.275% of the basic salary for every full year in office. In practice this means that Ursula von der Leyen will get a pension of 21.38% of her last basic salary or about 5964 EUR every month if she stays as European Commission President the full five years.

The full pension can be received form the age of 66. If the official chooses to receive an early retirement pension from the age of 60, 64% of the total amount would be paid.

Sources

Salary of the European Commission President is calculated according to the Regulation No 422/67/EEC, 5/67/Euratom of the Council of 25 July 1967 determining the emoluments of the President and members of the Commission and of the President, Judges, Advocates-General and Registrar of the Court of Justice. This regulation also covers the salaries of the European Commissioners, and Judges of the Court of the European Union. Source for the figures on salary of the German Chancellor: attachment IV to the Federal Law on Salaries of Officers – Bundesbesoldungsgesetz, BGBl. 2002 I p. 3020. Source for the figures on salary of the US President is the White House Website.

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