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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU's Juncker: Don't believe Brexit won't happen | EU's Juncker: Don't believe Brexit won't happen |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker says he believes Brexit will go ahead and the EU should tackle its looming budget shortfall. | |
| "Don't believe those who say that it's not going to happen and that people in the UK have realised their error... I don't think that's going to be the case," he told a Brussels conference. | "Don't believe those who say that it's not going to happen and that people in the UK have realised their error... I don't think that's going to be the case," he told a Brussels conference. |
| The EU budget commissioner said the UK's departure would leave a hole of about €12-13bn (£11-12bn; $14-$16bn). | The EU budget commissioner said the UK's departure would leave a hole of about €12-13bn (£11-12bn; $14-$16bn). |
| The UK's exit is set for March 2019. | The UK's exit is set for March 2019. |
| Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said the budget gap would have to be closed with 50% spending cuts and 50% fresh money. He suggested a Europe-wide tax on plastic products as a source of extra revenue. | Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said the budget gap would have to be closed with 50% spending cuts and 50% fresh money. He suggested a Europe-wide tax on plastic products as a source of extra revenue. |
| The Commission will publish a proposal in May this year and has urged EU leaders to agree a budget deal by May 2019. | The Commission will publish a proposal in May this year and has urged EU leaders to agree a budget deal by May 2019. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and former Prime Minister Tony Blair are among the prominent voices arguing that Brexit can still be reversed, possibly by holding a new referendum on whatever deal is reached on the UK withdrawal. | Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and former Prime Minister Tony Blair are among the prominent voices arguing that Brexit can still be reversed, possibly by holding a new referendum on whatever deal is reached on the UK withdrawal. |
| The EU is bracing for hard bargaining between the bloc's net contributors and net recipients for the next budget period, 2020-2026. The UK is currently among the major net contributors. | The EU is bracing for hard bargaining between the bloc's net contributors and net recipients for the next budget period, 2020-2026. The UK is currently among the major net contributors. |
| What do the EU budget figures mean? | What do the EU budget figures mean? |
| By Adam Fleming, BBC News, Brussels | By Adam Fleming, BBC News, Brussels |
| "There will have to be cuts in some major [EU] programmes - some significant cuts," Mr Oettinger warned. | "There will have to be cuts in some major [EU] programmes - some significant cuts," Mr Oettinger warned. |
| UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said Britain will honour its current commitments to the EU budget, until 2020. | UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said Britain will honour its current commitments to the EU budget, until 2020. |
| The UK is one of 10 member states who pay more into the EU budget than they get out. Only France and Germany contribute more. | The UK is one of 10 member states who pay more into the EU budget than they get out. Only France and Germany contribute more. |
| According to UK Treasury figures, the UK's net contribution for 2014/15 was £8.8bn. The total contribution was more, but the UK received a £4.6bn rebate. That annual rebate was won by the late Margaret Thatcher. | According to UK Treasury figures, the UK's net contribution for 2014/15 was £8.8bn. The total contribution was more, but the UK received a £4.6bn rebate. That annual rebate was won by the late Margaret Thatcher. |
| In 2014/15, Poland was the largest beneficiary, followed by Hungary and Greece. | In 2014/15, Poland was the largest beneficiary, followed by Hungary and Greece. |
| On Monday the veteran pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage met EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels. "Mr Barnier clearly did not understand why Brexit happened," he said after the meeting. | On Monday the veteran pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage met EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels. "Mr Barnier clearly did not understand why Brexit happened," he said after the meeting. |