The European Commission has decided to take a dispute concerning a pay rise for EU staff to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

EU members had agreed earlier to a 3.8 percent salary increase drawn up under a formula previously agreed by national leaders. Last month, 20 nations decided to revoke the agreement, while seven member states abstained. They argued that a 3.8 pay rise would send the wrong message in times of economic recession and settled on a 1.8 percent pay increase.

The commission argues that the original 3.8 figure was calculated through a legally-binding mechanism, averaging pay rises in Brussels and eight EU countries. It added that it had asked for a speedy decision by the European court for the case. The legal battle could potentially become more complicated by the fact that judges set to hear the case themselves would benefit from the higher pay rise.

Photo: EU parliament building by ANP