UK ordered to pay extra €2.1bn into European Union budget

[dutchman]

Tories and Ukip condemn Brussels demand after EU statistics agency exposes major discrepancy in contribution calculations



Britain has been told that it must pay an additional €2.1bn (£1.7bn) into the European Union budget by the end of next month in an ultimatum certain to be used against David Cameron by the growing camp urging the UK to quit the EU.

British and European Commission officials confirmed on Thursday evening that the Treasury had been informed last week that budget contribution calculations based on gross national income adjustments carried out by Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, had exposed a massive discrepancy between what the UK had been asked to contribute and what it should be paying, because the UK economy was doing much better relative to other European economies.

The bombshell, first reported by the Financial Times, was dropped into the middle of an EU summit in Brussels where David Cameron and 27 other leaders were mired in difficult negotiations over climate-change policy and attempts to agree big reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

A Downing Street source said: “It’s not acceptable to just change the fees for previous years and demand them back at a moment’s notice.

“The European Commission was not expecting this money and does not need this money and we will work with other countries similarly affected to do all we can to challenge this.”

The prime minister on Thursday evening conferred with Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, as the Dutch have also been ordered to pay more than €600m extra into the budget, while other countries such as Germany and France are slated to have excess contributions returned.

The commission told the various countries of the revamped figures on 17 October, EU officials said. They added that the British had until 1 December to provide €2.1bn, roughly a fifth of the UK’s annual net contribution to the EU.

The demand for the money is political dynamite for a prime minister wrestling with dilemmas over Britain’s future in Europe and broadly seen to be making increasingly eurosceptic gestures to the restless backbenchers who are seeking to deal with the Europe rejectionists of Nigel Farage’s Ukip.

[rebbonk]

Out, out, out!

[rebbonk]

EU finance bod: Sorry Camoron old chap, you owe us this money, you'll just have to pay.

Camoron (if he had a pair!): OK old love, just hand over the audited EU accounts so I can see where we owe you. Just for my own satisfaction you understand?

EU finance bod: Errr... errr....

[rebbonk]

And let us not forget that Blair gave away our rebate...

[dutchman]

Cameron is going to pay it though. Maybe not by December 1st and maybe not all in one go but he is going to pay it.

[rebbonk]

Cameron is going to pay it though. Maybe not by December 1st and maybe not all in one go but he is going to pay it.

Of course the spineless little will. He knows where his bread is buttered!

[dutchman]

I suspect "Dave" will be having a few "words" with his advisers tonight?

[rebbonk]

Looks like the neighbours don't chat over the fence!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11186866/George-Osborne-failed-to-tell-David-Cameron-about-EU-bill.html

[dutchman]

Huge surge in support for Ukip after EU funding row

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po ... 21889.html

Support for Ukip has surged to a record high following the surprise attempt by Brussels to levy a £1.7bn “surcharge” on Britain, a ComRes survey for the Independent reveals today.

The results are a major fillip for the anti-European Union party which is bidding to capture its second Commons seat next month and has high hopes of securing the election this week of its first Police and Crime Commissioner.

The poll also contains dire news for Labour, which has fallen to its lowest level of support since Ed Miliband became the party’s leader.

It puts Ukip on 19 per cent, a jump of four points on last month and one point above its previous record support in June.

The Conservatives are up one point to 30 per cent to bring them level with Labour, which has slumped by five points amid growing criticism of Mr Miliband’s leadership.