Ze stopten in 2014 al met hun baan als EU-commissaris, maar twee jaar na dato krijgen de bewindslieden die onder voorzitter José Manuel Barroso – ja, die van Goldman Sachs – werkten nog altijd minstens 8.333 euro per maand op hun rekening gestort. Dat komt neer op bijna een ton per jaar.

Inderdaad, van onze belastingcenten, stelt het Duitse weekblad Die Zeit.

Het heeft alles te maken met een overgangsregeling die ervoor moest zorgen dat commissarissen niet direct na vertrek uit Brussel een goedbetaalde baan in het bedrijfsleven zouden aannemen. Dit om belangenverstrengeling te voorkomen.

Ironisch genoeg zijn veel van de commissarissen met royale toelage al lang en breed weer aan het werk in goedbetaalde posities als lobbyisten, managers of in andere politieke partijen.

Afgelopen jaar werd de termijn van de toelage (die in 1967 werd ingesteld) onder het presidentschap van Nederland teruggebracht van drie naar twee jaar, wat ook weer een hoop andere veranderingen met zich meebracht.

Wie komen we in de lijst tegen? Onder andere de Belg Karel De Gucht, die anno 2016 deel uitmaakt van de raad van toezicht van staalgigant ArcelorMittal en telecombedrijf Proximus. Hij heeft volgens het Duitse weekblad op dit moment recht op bijna 125.000 euro overbruggingstoelage per jaar.

Bekijk hieronder de hele lijst die Die Zeit publiceerde.

Joaquín Almunia Amann uit Spanje

2014-10-07 12:27:41 epa04435583 European Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia gives a news conference on the transfer pricing arrangements on corporate taxation of Amazon in Luxembourg, at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 07 October 2014. Report states The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to examine whether the decision by Luxembourg's tax authorities with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by mail-order online store Amazon in Luxembourg comply with the EU rules on state aid. The opening of an in-depth investigation gives interested third parties and the Member States concerned an opportunity to submit comments. It does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Foto: EPA. Joaquín Almunia Amann uit Spanje

Was: Europees commissaris Economische en Monetaire Zaken en later Mededinging van 2004 tot 2014

Is nu: Onderdeel van verschillende denktanks en platformen, geeft lezingen en schrijft boeken en artikelen voor diverse media. Hij is gasthoogleraar aan het Europees Instituut van The London School of Economics and Political Science en The Paris School of International Affairs - Sciences Po.

László Andor uit Hongarije

2014-06-06 20:00:00 epa04241998 Hungarian Laszlo Andor, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, gives a press briefing on Health and Safety at work at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 06 June 2014. To better protect the more than 217 million workers in the EU from work-related accidents and diseases, the Commission presented ther new 'Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-20', which identifies key challenges and strategic objectives for health and safety at work and presents key actions and instruments to address these. Writing in background in German language means 'Working place'. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

László Andor uit Hongarije. Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Werkgelegenheid en sociale zaken van 2010 tot 2014.

Is nu: Werkt voor Corvinus Universiteit in Budapest, de Hans Böckler Stichting, de Universiteit van Brussel, The Hertie School in Berlijn en The Paris School of International Affairs - Sciences Po.

Tonio Borg uit Malta

2014-02-11 20:00:00 epa04069096 European commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy Maltese Tonio Borg gives a press briefing at the end of a European general affairs council at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 11 February 2014. The ministers mainly focus their discussions on the authorisation of the placing of the market for cultivation purposes of the genetically modified maize 1507. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Gezondheid van 2012 tot 2014.

Is nu: commissaris bij de European Medical Association.

Dacian Cioloș uit Roemenië

2016-09-21 11:20:18 epa05551342 Prime Minister of Romania Dacian Julien Ciolos addresses the General Debate of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, New York, USA, 21 September 2016. EPA/JASON SZENES

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Landbouw en plattelandsontwikkeling.

Is nu: Premier van Roemenië.

Maria Damanaki uit Griekenland

2014-10-14 12:10:29 epa04445955 EU fisheries and maritime affairs commissioner Maria Damanaki gives a press briefing on measures to fight against illegal fishing, at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 14 October 2014. In its fight against illegal fishing activities worldwide, the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, announced a ban of imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka to tackle the commercial benefits stemming from illegal fishing. The move comes after four years of intense dialogue with the country after which it could not demonstrate that it sufficiently addressed illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Maritieme zaken en visserij.

Is nu: Global Managing Director Oceans bij milieuorganisatie The Nature Conservancy.

Karel De Gucht uit België

2014-07-11 18:34:43 epa04311274 EU Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht, from Belgium, hold a press conference after a meeting between the European Commission, Ukraine and the Russian Federation at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, 11 July 2014. The meeting between the European Commission, Ukraine and the Russian Federation was set for political-level consultations on the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association agreement that was signed on 27 June. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Ontwikkelingssamenwerking en humanitaire hulp en later Handel van 2009 tot 2014.

Is nu: lid van de raad van toezicht van staalgigant ArcelorMittal en telecombedrijf Proximus.

Jacek Dominik uit Polen

2014-10-27 13:26:16 epa04465821 Outgoing European Commissioner in Charge of Budget Jacek Dominik gives a press briefing on the EU budget at EU commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 27 October 2014. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Financiële Programmering en Begroting van juli tot en met november 2014.

Is nu: general counselor bij het ministerie van Financiën in Polen, lid van het Comité ter controle van de boekhouding bij de Europese Investeringsbank.

Štefan Füle uit Tsjechië

2014-09-01 12:31:57 epa04379428 The European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule attends a press conference after the 9th Informal Ministerial Meeting of the Group for Moldova's European Action in Chisinau, Moldova, 01 September 2014. The discussions focuses on Moldova’s European agenda, especially, temporary enforcement of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement starting September 1st. EPA/RAFAL GUZ POLAND OUT

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Uitbreiding van 2009 tot en met 2014.

Is nu: ambassadeur van het internationaal adviesorgaan van het Central European Strategy Council (GLOBSEC).

Connie Hedegaard uit Denemarken

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Klimaat van 2010 tot 2014.

Is nu: lid van de raad van toezicht van energiebedrijf Danfoss.

Siim Kallas uit Estland

2014-05-05 15:09:14 epa04192269 Eurogroup President and Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem (L) and European Commissioner acting for Economic and Monetary Affairs Siim Kallas (R) chat at the start of Eurogroup Finance Ministers meeting at EU council headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, 05 May 2014. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Administratieve zaken, audit en fraudebestrijding en later Transport van 2004 tot 2014.

Is nu: stelde zich verkiesbaar voor de Estse presidentsverkiezingen van 2014, maar trok zich na commotie terug.

Janusz Lewandowski uit Polen

2013-09-04 00:00:00 epa03850022 EU Budget and Financial Programming Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski speaks during the 'Central Europe Scorecard 2030 - Emerging or Emerged?' plenary session during the 23rd Economic Forum in Krynica-Zdroj, southern Poland, 04 September 2013. The Forum is under the motto 'Towards a New Deal', which refers to an economic, social and political transformations after global economic crisis. EPA/GRZEGORZ MOMOT POLAND OUT

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Financiële programmering en begroting.

Is nu: lid van het team van economische adviseurs van Poolse politieke partij Platforma Obywatelska.

Ferdinando Nelli Feroci uit Italië

2014-09-11 20:00:00 epa04395276 European commissioner in charge of Industry and Entrepreneurship, Italian, Nelli Feroci gives a press briefing on Annual Competitiveness Report at the EU commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 11 September 2014. European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, commented: 'I appreciate the efforts made by Member States to improve their industrial competitiveness. However, a lot still needs to be done. Tackling lack of investment, limited access to finance, high energy prices and inefficient public administration will put our companies and SMEs in a stronger position to compete in the global market place.' EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Foto: EPA

Was: invaller voor ongeveer vier maanden in 2014 (Industrie en Ondernemerschap).

Is nu: president bij het Italiaanse instituut voor Internationale betrekkingen en bij Simest, Italiaanse Vereniging van Ondernemingen in het buitenland.

Andris Piebalgs uit Letland

2014-10-14 00:00:00 epa04445808 Latvian EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs attends the Ministerial Conference 'Italy-Africa, working together for a sustainable energy future' at the Farnesina palace in Rome, Italy, 14 October 2014. Farnesina hosts the ministerial session of the Energy Segment of the Italy-Africa Initiative within the framework of the Italian duty presidency of the Council of the EU. EPA/FABIO CAMPANA

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Energiebeleid en Ontwikkelingssamenwerking.

Is nu: partijleider van het politieke Vienotība.

Janez Potočnik uit Slovenië

2014-07-02 11:53:03 epa04295444 Janez Potocnik, Member of the EC in charge of Environment holds a joint news conference with European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Lazlo Andor (not pictured), on Green Employment Initiatives, at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, 02 July 2014. Report states the European Commission adopted proposals to turn Europe into a more circular economy and boost recycling in the Member States. EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Wetenschap en onderzoek en later Milieu van 2004 tot 2014.

Is nu: lid en co-voorzitter van de International Resource Panel van het milieuprogramma van de Verenigde Naties, voorzitter van The Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) en lid van het adviesorgaan van European Policy Centre (EPC).

Algirdas Šemeta uit Litouwen

2013-11-25 20:00:00 epa03964657 European Commissione for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud , Lithuanian, Algidras Semeta gives a news conference as the Commission proposes tightening key EU corporate tax legislation at the EU commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium 25 November 2013. Algirdas Semeta, Commissioner for Taxation said, 'EU tax policy is heavily focussed on creating a better environment for businesses in the EU. This means breaking down tax barriers and tackling cross-border problems such as double taxation. But when our rules are abused to avoid paying any tax at all, then we need to adjust them. Today's proposal will ensure that the spirit, as well as the letter, of our law is respected. As such, it will ensure greater revenues for national budgets and fairer competition for our businesses.' EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris Begroting en later Belasting, douane en financieel toezicht van 2010 tot 2014.

Is nu: ombudsman in Oekraïne.

Androulla Vassiliou van Cyprus

2014-05-13 20:00:00 epa04203588 Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, presents the new international university ranking U-Multirank at the EU commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium 13 May 2014. The new global university ranking, set up with 2 million euros in funding from the European Union, was launched the same day 13 May. U-Multirank, which assesses the performance of more than 850 higher education institutions worldwide, breaks new ground by producing multi-dimensional listings rating universities on a much wider range of factors than existing international rankings. The idea is to avoid simplistic league tables which can result in misleading comparisons between institutions of very different types or mask significant differences in quality between courses at the same university, the commission said. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Foto: EPA

Was: Europees commissaris voor Gezondheid en later Onderwijs, cultuur en meertaligheid.

Is nu: onder andere voorzitter Board of Trustees Cyprus Oncology Centre en voorzitter Cyprus Federation of Business and Professional Woman.