Do they allow humans into Barosso's bubble?

I only ask because of this ,

European commission president José Manuel Barroso has hit out against "false information" about pay and conditions for EU civil servants.

The former Portuguese prime minister has hit back at media attacks on the "comfortable" lifestyles enjoyed by the small army of officials working for the commission and other EU institutions.

No of course Jose, Eurocrats don't have comfortable lifestyles at all. That is why they can feel hard done by when they only get 6 extra days leave instead of 8 to travel to Greece and back.

The European civil service is often attacked for its apparent 'privileges' when this is not the case and I am always defending this."
Saying he "cannot accept populism against the European civil service" he paid tribute to EU civil servants, describing them as a "great asset to Europe".

So tell me Mr Barroso what normal employer has little, err privileges like this one,

Any official with a child over the age of 26 who has begun studying and is continuing his or her studies past the age of 26 may apply for a tax abatement.

This abatement may be granted up to the age of 30.

Exceptionally, the tax abatement may be granted for a child over the age of 18 who is dependent on the official and lives under his or her roof.

This tax abatement will cease as soon as the child begins a gainful activity.

Of course if the child of an official is studying before the age of 26 then,

Allowance A: EUR 91.02 a month (as of 1 July 2010).
Allowance B: officials may be reimbursed for any registration fees and transport costs they incur, up to a maximum monthly amount of EUR 252.81 (as of 1 July 2010).
For children attending an establishment of higher education, the official may receive a flat-rate allowance equivalent to the maximum limit of the education allowance, i.e. EUR 252.81 per month (as of 1 July 2010).
For children attending an establishment of higher education in a country other than that in which the official is employed, the official may receive twice the maximum amount of the education allowance, i.e. EUR 505.62 per month (as of 1 July 2010).

That doesn't include the subsidised holidays to the slopes, the household allowances. Oh don't get me started.

Look, I have an interest in this as I am an official, but Mr Barosso's cloud-cuckoo land statement cannot be allowed to stand unopposed.

Put it this way, there are issues with the trade unions as I pointed out last week. He is talking to an internal newsheet (my guess is Commission en Direct) in order to tamp down on industrial unrest amongst the Eurocrats. But he obviously has no idea of what people in the real world have to live and survive. He has no knowledge and it appears from this, no care.