EU President Pays Professor €149K for Farming Insights

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen allocated €149,963.66 to pay Peter Strohschneider, a medieval history professor, for a report on EU agriculture. His daily rate of €973.79 exceeds the maximum rate for special advisers, which is €594.22. Critics, including academic Christoph Demmke, have labeled this expenditure as excessive and unnecessary, questioning the rationale behind such a high payment for a role typically filled by unpaid advisers. The decision to hire Strohschneider was based on his previous experience chairing a similar consultation for the German government. The Commission justified the high salary by citing the complexity of the task and the need for engagement with high-level stakeholders. This exception to the salary guidelines is permitted under specific circumstances, allowing for higher payments in exceptional cases. Strohschneider's role involves overseeing a significant report titled "Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU agriculture," which is crucial for shaping agricultural policies in the EU. His appointment is part of a broader trend where the Commission has engaged around 100 special advisers since 2019, some of whom are compensated at high rates. While some stakeholders acknowledge the complexity of the task assigned to Strohschneider, there remains a sentiment that the salary is disproportionate. The Commission's choice to allocate such a substantial budget for this role raises questions about fiscal responsibility and the prioritization of public funds in advisory positions.