Price increase confirmed – Generation 2004 calls for support for the most vulnerable. Meal prices in the European Commission’s canteens in Brussels are set to increase by 4.2%, as confirmed by the Head of Unit responsible for the catering in OIB, during the Local Staff Committee Brussels (LSC Brussels) meeting on Tuesday 1 July.
While this may seem like a modest adjustment, it adds up, especially for colleagues already struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.
A typical warm meal in the canteen costs around €10. Even though many colleagues now telework part of the week, those who come in regularly can still spend €100–200 per month just on lunches. For many, this is a considerable expense, especially in the context of rising prices everywhere.
As a result, more and more colleagues are opting to bring their own food and reheat it at work, not because they prefer to, but because they have no choice. The trend toward bringing meals from home is growing, and it’s not hard to see why. Moreover, reheating food often causes strong smells that can disturb others, especially in open plan Offices.
This upcoming price increase comes on top of a broader wave of cost hikes: school canteens, extracurricular activities, groceries, utilities — all becoming more expensive. And while our salaries are formally adjusted, these adjustments lag far behind the actual pace of inflation. In real terms, our purchasing power continues to shrink.
During the meeting, the HOU responsible for the catering unit in OIB spoke about the limitations of the current system: the procurement of foodstuffs, which does not allow for negotiation or purchasing flexibility; discrepancies between what is ordered and what is delivered; and a system that is both financially and administratively burdensome to manage. We understand these challenges. However, despite being fully aware of these limitations, such a model had nonetheless been chosen for our canteens and cafeterias. While the current situation was presented in a favourable light, we believe the key bottlenecks remain.
When challenged by participants in the plenary, the responsible stated that there were sufficient budget-friendly options for staff with limited means. Unfortunately, this does not reflect the experience of many colleagues, who frequently raise concerns about the lack of low-cost choices (typically limited to pasta and a vegetarian dish), the small portion sizes, and, according to some, a decline in food quality.
We also raised concerns about the current concept (the internalisation of services with external staff support), which has significantly contributed to rising costs. Despite the use of Commission-owned kitchens and equipment, as well as internal staff for management and supervision, the cost of additional external personnel continues to increase, inevitably significantly contributing to driving up prices for clients. Is this sustainable?
In contrast, we observe a successful model in Ispra, where the Clubhouse restaurant, also managed by internal staff, offers good-quality meals at affordable prices. Their canteen model used also appears to match their size and offers very reasonable prices. This raises a question: How should we improve our current Brussels model, perhaps moving towards full internalisation (all staff internal) to reduce the cost burden of external staff and alleviate enormous pressure to deliver on OIB internal teams? Or should we revisit the option of externalisation?
One is certain. The current model must immediately provide support for the least earning colleagues.
Indeed, those that are hit the hardest are the most vulnerable – trainees and Contract Agents in function groups I and II, who already face serious difficulties making ends meet.
Generation 2004 fully supports the initiative of the joint committee for the Management of Restaurants and Shops (CPRE – Comité paritaire de gestion des restaurants et de l’économat), which in a letter dated 18 February 2025 called on DG HR to implement targeted subsidies:
• €2 per meal for Contract Agents in FG I and II
• €1 per meal for trainees
A follow-up letter sent on 25 April 2025 requested implementation as of 1 January 2026. To date, no reply has been received from DG HR.
While we welcome this call for support, Generation 2004 believes that these proposed subsidies are far from sufficient. In today’s context, €1 or €2 per meal amounts to only symbolic help – not a real solution. More ambitious and meaningful support is needed if we are serious about protecting the most financially vulnerable members of our workforce.
Generation 2004 urges DG HR to respond without delay and to ensure that no colleague is priced out of accessing a warm meal at work. Fair treatment starts with recognising financial realities, especially for those already under pressure.
We will continue to push for equity, dignity, and meaningful support.
As always, if you have questions or comments, feel free to contact us.
