Preparations underway for EU budget talks
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...et-rebate.html
David Cameron threatens veto over EU budget rebate
David Cameron has promised to veto any new European Union budget that reduces Britain’s annual rebate.
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Originally Posted by Telegraph
The Prime Minister said he would "fight incredibly hard" to defend the rebate at an EU summit starting in Brussels tomorrow.
EU leaders are trying to agree a seven-year budget starting in 2014.
Mr Cameron has said the budget should be frozen and has previously suggested he would veto any increase in overall spending.
However, the Prime Minister has not previously focused on the issue of Britain's contributions to the EU budget and the rebate.
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Originally Posted by Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph reported earlier that UK officials believe it is possible that a deal which cuts overall EU spending still means Britain has to pay more to Europe.
A budget proposed by Herman Van Rompuy, the EU president, would reduce overall EU spending, but reduce the value of Britain’s annual rebate.
The rebate, won by Margaret Thatcher in 1984, adjusts Britain’s EU contributions to reflect the fact that the UK receives much less in farm subsidies than France.
It is currently worth £3.2 billion a year, but Mr van Rompuy’s changes could reduce it by 25 per cent, costing Britain almost £6 billion over the next budget round.
In the House of Commons, David Nuttall, a Conservative MP and longstanding critic of the EU, challenged Mr Cameron to promise to veto any deal that reduces the rebate.
Mr Cameron replied: “I can give my honourable friend that assurance. The rebate, negotiated by Magaret Thatcher, is an incredibly important part of making sure Britain gets a fair deal in Europe.”
Mr Cameron also attacked Labour for their record on the EU budget.
In 2005, Tony Blair agreed to give up part of Britain’s annual budget rebate, a decision estimated to have cost British taxpayers almost £10 billion over the 2007 – 13 budget round.
British officials have said that such changes could mean that any new budget deal means that British taxpayers end up contributing more to the EU, even its overall budget falls.
I can already smell a cave in. The fact that Cameron has said he will 'fight very hard' (political speak for I have already caved in and expect to lose) and the fact he's shifting attention to the rebate issue show to me that yet again, the Conservative Party talks tough on the issue of the EU yet caves in and surrenders more money and more power to this corrupt organisation all the time.
Stand by for a cave in, as per usual.
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Originally Posted by Telegraph comment
So he's gone from real cuts, to budget freeze, to protecting the rebate in no time at all.
You can smell the stench of sickly fudge emanating from Cameron before he opens his mouth.
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Originally Posted by Telegraph comment
'The Prime Minister said he would "fight incredibly hard" to defend
the rebate ...' Am I alone in not being very reassured by such use of language. Any fool can say that he fought incredibly hard - but then had to surrender.
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Originally Posted by Telegraph comment
How I wish that Cameron would simply say :
'We are cutting our contribution to the EU budget by 50% with immediate effect. Any retaliation will be followed by cutting the remaining 50%'
Thoughts?
