MEP Markus Buchheit (ESN) has asked the European Commission to justify the staffing and added value of press and public relations teams at its representations in Germany and Austria, questioning whether the decentralised operations duplicate central communication structures and violate budgetary principles.
In a parliamentary question submitted on 9 June 2026, Buchheit noted that the Commission representation in Berlin alone has a six-strong press and public relations team, with additional positions in Bonn, Munich, and Vienna. He asked for a breakdown of these positions by full-time/part-time status and employment category (officials, other staff, contract personnel).
Buchheit also requested evidence of the tangible, measurable added value of these decentralised press operations compared to the central Spokesperson’s Service and DG COMM, which report directly to the Commission President. He asked what criteria—such as reach, media output, or independent content—are used to determine this added value.
Finally, the MEP questioned how the Commission reconciles the existence of both centralised and decentralised communication structures with the budgetary principles of economy and efficiency under Article 33 of the Financial Regulation. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal its stance on the efficiency of its communication operations in German-speaking countries.