European commission headquarters in Brussels | Olivier Hoslet/EPA Brexit is no reason to cut EU staff numbers, says Commission ‘The UK will not vanish,’ internal document says, so staff will still be needed.

The European Commission called on member countries not to use Brexit as an excuse to cut the number of staff working in the EU institutions, according to an internal document seen by POLITICO.

"The consequences of BREXIT on the workload and functioning of the administration of the institutions are limited, and BREXIT may even lead to more work in some areas," the Commission wrote in a paper with the title "Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021 -2027: European Public Administration."

The paper, which was discussed by European commissioners earlier this month, argues that "English will remain an official and a working language, and therefore the institutions will require their linguistic staff currently in place," so translators and interpreters will still be needed.

It also argues that while "the representation in the UK and the regional offices in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh will be closed," the EU will still need to have a diplomatic representation to the U.K. when it leaves, and an "EU delegation is foreseen to open in London in 2019, building to the greatest possible extent on the current Representation."

"The U.K. will not vanish," the paper says: "Depending on the terms of the final withdrawal agreement with the United Kingdom, there will be a need for staff at all levels dealing with UK files."

The paper says "the only known factors are the reduction in the number of Members for those institutions which have a clearly defined structure of membership based on Member State affiliation." That's a reference to the European Parliament, which will lose British MEPs plus their staff. In addition, the Commission and European Court of Auditors will each lose one commissioner/member plus staff, and the European Court of Justice has three U.K. members.