‘Other operating expenses’ include insurance, accommodation costs, costs of fixtures and fittings, auditor’s fees, marketing costs, maintenance costs for operating assets and additions to provisions. The increase in other operating expenses from €738 million in 2019 to €1,365 million in 2020 is mainly caused by accounting for termination payments/net asset payments in the United Kingdom in the amount of €487 million (note 29) and the operation of the East Midlands franchise from August 2019.
Auditor’s fees
(in millions of euros) | 2020 | 2019 |
Statutory audits | 3.6 | 3.9 |
Other assurance engagements | 0.4 | 0.5 |
Tax advisory services | - | - |
Other services | - | - |
Total | 4.0 | 4.4 |
The auditor’s fees comprise both the fees for services in the Netherlands and those for the networks abroad.