Britain facing £1bn EU fine

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/13261/
UK facing £1bn EU fine


The UK could face fines of up to £1bn over failing to hit targets on areas such as air quality, recycling and procurement. As a result of the new Localism Bill it is possible that local authorities - already facing budget cuts of 28% - will be forced to pay any fines levied by the EU.

On SkyNews alert also as Robbie pointed out for me, there will probably be more articles published tonight/tommorow on this. But there we go, we're being fined by an unelected organisation which we largely (and stupidly) pay for for not complying with its ridiculous rules and regulations.

But don't blame the EU, we know they are money chasers - blame our spineless politicians for keeping us in the thing in the first place. No doubt cast-iron Dave will melt away and pay the fine (as the French don't), infact knowing jelly-spined Dave Cameron he will probably pay double because afterall Brussels is the retirement home for unpopular booted out politicians - a group I suspect Cameron & Clegg will belong to before long.

As per usual, no opposition from the Labour Party and none from our Con/Dem government - nothing to say on the prospect of being fined by a corrupt organisation which hasn't had its accounts signed off for the past 16 years.

Edit: Telegraph article on topic published; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/globalbusiness/8269662/UK-facing-1bn-fines-over-use-of-EU-money.html

Thoughts?

[Alkaz]

Surely the most sensible thing to do would be to make us invest an extra £1bn into making the necessary changes so that we hit the targets the following year. :S

[Chippiewill]

From the linked article it appears that it's only really £400m and the rest of it was set aside just in case.

[Ajthedragon]

If we didn't meet the demands surely we should be being invested in? Silly eu.

[dbgtz]

If we didn't meet the demands surely we should be being invested in? Silly eu.

No. They will just do it "themselves" and shove a bunch of EU logos on everything.


From the linked article it appears that it's only really £400m and the rest of it was set aside just in case.

But it's still ridiculous :S

This is one of the worst things I've read in terms of money in politics, it's sickening to be quite honest and I honestly which we would get a PM who would grow some balls. Or **** if its a woman.

[Eoin247]

From reading the article it seems to not quite be 1 billion. However i understand nonetheless the frustration you guys must have at having to pay any sizeable amount of money towards the EU during these times, especially those of you that are anti EU.

[Slowpoke]

I really do think it's time we leave the EU

Rule Britannia!

[Eoin247]

I really do think it's time we leave the EU

Rule Britannia!

Just out of interest are you totaly anti EU , or would prefer a reformed EU?

Theres no doubt that the EU has done many great things for Europe in the past, however the question is do the good things outway the bad or not? That's the question that i suppose will crop up very frequently in the years to come.

[Slowpoke]

There are certain aspects of being in the EU that I like, one of which is explained here (http://debatewise.org/debates/784-the-uk-should-leave-the-european-union#point_3804_headline). I believe it's quite a delicate subject and as such I won't discuss the reasons I want us to leave the EU, mainly because I have very strong views which some may find quite offensive.

[Moh]

Sounds like the EU are being generous, surprised they ain't trying to get any more out of us.

Imo the EU is a liability to the UK, financially we don't get any benefits by being part of the EU. If somebody moves to the UK from another EU country, they can claim benefits pretty much instantly. If we were to do that in another country, I think you have to live in that country for about a year. Are UK tax payers still paying for child benefits for families who no longer live in this country? or have they sorted that mess out yet?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Just out of interest are you totaly anti EU , or would prefer a reformed EU?

Theres no doubt that the EU has done many great things for Europe in the past, however the question is do the good things outway the bad or not? That's the question that i suppose will crop up very frequently in the years to come.

What good things has it done? the only 'good' things it has done (in perspective to poorer countries) is for giving handouts in return for support to the extent that the Republic of Ireland recieved during the 1980s/1990s - which British taxpayers have to foot the bill for and if given the chance to have a sya on it i'm sure most British taxpayers would not be content with funding new sewers in Budapest or new 'ghost lanes' in the Irish Republic.

Even if it were economically beneficial and even if it did give the UK large sums of cash (of which it is neither and never has been), I would still object to it because a) I believe British sovereignty is priceless & b) i'm aware of its final stated aim & c) it is undemocratic.