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David Cameron will block rise in EU budget David Cameron will block rise in EU budget
(about 1 hour later)
David Cameron will not accept a deal on the EU budget at this week's summit in Brussels unless it freezes or cuts European spending, his spokesman has said.David Cameron will not accept a deal on the EU budget at this week's summit in Brussels unless it freezes or cuts European spending, his spokesman has said.
Talks on the budget for 2014-20 broke down in November, with a frustrated Cameron calling on the EU to start living "in the real world" by recognising the need for financial belt-tightening in line with national cutbacks.Talks on the budget for 2014-20 broke down in November, with a frustrated Cameron calling on the EU to start living "in the real world" by recognising the need for financial belt-tightening in line with national cutbacks.
Two days before a second attempt to break the deadlock begins on Thursday, the prime minister's spokesman made clear that Britain is still holding out for further reductions in the £756bn budget being sought by the European commission. He left no doubt that Cameron is ready to block a deal in Brussels if he does not secure at least a real-terms freeze in the budget.Two days before a second attempt to break the deadlock begins on Thursday, the prime minister's spokesman made clear that Britain is still holding out for further reductions in the £756bn budget being sought by the European commission. He left no doubt that Cameron is ready to block a deal in Brussels if he does not secure at least a real-terms freeze in the budget.
"We are working with a number of our allies, who all believe that spending needs to come down further," the spokesman told a regular media briefing in Westminster. "If it doesn't budge, then a deal isn't going to be do-able.""We are working with a number of our allies, who all believe that spending needs to come down further," the spokesman told a regular media briefing in Westminster. "If it doesn't budge, then a deal isn't going to be do-able."
Countries including Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are also opposed to increases in the EU budget, said the spokesman. Cameron and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, confirmed their agreement on the issue in a phone call on Sunday.Countries including Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany are also opposed to increases in the EU budget, said the spokesman. Cameron and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, confirmed their agreement on the issue in a phone call on Sunday.
The spokesman left no doubt that Cameron is ready to leave Brussels on Friday without a deal, forcing further rounds of wrangling between EU leaders.The spokesman left no doubt that Cameron is ready to leave Brussels on Friday without a deal, forcing further rounds of wrangling between EU leaders.
"Negotiations around the EU budget have always been difficult," said the spokesman. "I don't see these as being any different."Negotiations around the EU budget have always been difficult," said the spokesman. "I don't see these as being any different.
"They can take quite considerable time. You sometimes have several goes at it. This is already the second go. If there is to be an agreement, then spending is going to have to be reduced further from the proposals that were on the table in November.""They can take quite considerable time. You sometimes have several goes at it. This is already the second go. If there is to be an agreement, then spending is going to have to be reduced further from the proposals that were on the table in November."
Cameron irritated the commission in November by targeting Eurocrats' pay and perks and suggesting numbers of European civil servants should be cut.Cameron irritated the commission in November by targeting Eurocrats' pay and perks and suggesting numbers of European civil servants should be cut.
The European commission's opening bid for an overall budget ceiling of €1 trillion (£860bn) was pegged back to £756bn before the last effort at a deal collapsed.The European commission's opening bid for an overall budget ceiling of €1 trillion (£860bn) was pegged back to £756bn before the last effort at a deal collapsed.
On Thursday Cameron will be seeking much more – including cuts in the controversial common agricultural policy (CAP), which absorbs 40% of EU spending, much of it in the form of direct subsidies to farmers.On Thursday Cameron will be seeking much more – including cuts in the controversial common agricultural policy (CAP), which absorbs 40% of EU spending, much of it in the form of direct subsidies to farmers.
MEPs are due on Wednesday to vote in favour of a new CAP budget which includes increasing some farm subsidies despite the economic crisis.MEPs are due on Wednesday to vote in favour of a new CAP budget which includes increasing some farm subsidies despite the economic crisis.
After pre-summit talks between EU ministers in Brussels on Monday, the EU administration commissioner Maros Sefcovic said a deal at the summit on Thursday and Friday would send a "positive signal" about the European economy and help restore confidence. After pre-summit talks between EU ministers in Brussels on Monday, the EU administration commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, said a deal at the summit on Thursday and Friday would send a positive signal about the European economy and help restore confidence.
But he also made clear that any accord had to be "balanced" – in other words giving the commission a big enough kitty to finance the policies the member states have signed up to.But he also made clear that any accord had to be "balanced" – in other words giving the commission a big enough kitty to finance the policies the member states have signed up to.
"I urge member states not to get carried away and break the European engine," said the commissioner."I urge member states not to get carried away and break the European engine," said the commissioner.