Those decreases are because of our delays in preparing the documents. You gave budget 2017 as an example. Clearly, the FTEs are not included in the budget yet, but they will be starting next year.
Over the years, when we receive funds from previous years and the related forecasts, some funds expire. So the FTEs are removed and the new FTEs are restored depending on the new investments. Until the budget decisions are made, we don't have the right to make forecasts about the FTEs in future years. We rely on the authorities we have at this time of the year, considering all the decisions made so far.
It is normal that, for most departments, those figures go down over the years and are adjusted as the new budget decisions are confirmed. If we have funds that are supposed to expire and we think they will be renewed, we don't have the right to keep the FTE figures in our reports. We have to wait for the official renewal, which is usually done through the budget.