The European institutions (Commission, Parliament, etc.) have abnormal operating costs compared to the activities carried out and pay salaries disproportionate to those of 'normal' European citizens. This means that those who work in the European institutions live in a 'bubble' and are completely disconnected from the actual living situation of the rest of the population. While governments all "pull their belts", the EU institutions do not set a good example. The new budget should oblige them to a strict spending review and the privileges enjoyed by all EU staff should also be significantly reduced. The salary of the staff of the EU institutions should not exceed the average salary of European civil servants and should be taxed at a rate equal to the average of the rates applied by European states. In this way we would have institutions closer to the citizens and more sensitive to their daily problems and would free up resources for other uses.