The Budgets Committee has recommended that the administrative budget - covering the Parliament's internal costs - should not exceed the EU-wide inflation rate of 1.9%, which means a real terms freeze.

BBC: Budget debate

Each agency shall establish a plan for reducing the combined costs associated with the activities covered by sections 3 through 7 of this order, as well as activities included in the Administrative Efficiency Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, by not less than 20 percent below Fiscal Year 2010 levels, in Fiscal Year 2013.

WHITEHOUSE: Executive Order 13589 -- Promoting Efficient Spending

Administrative costs which make up 6% of the budget have gone up since the last budget, although they have come down by 1 billion since the figures proposed in November.

BBC: EU budget: National interests trump solidarity

He has also shoved a tight budget through parliament and made a start on administrative reform, creating a cabinet secretariat that tries to stop ministers acting as rival chieftains.

ECONOMIST: Viktor Yushchenko, Ukraine��s faint hope

She criticised an increase in spending on the European Parliament's administrative costs, and told MEPs to "listen to their conscience" and vote against the budget.

BBC: Budget 2010 debate

"Every application has been carefully assessed to ensure that the highest possible proportion of the budget can be used to deliver projects in local communities rather than being spent on administrative costs, " Mr Sargeant added.

BBC: Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant