This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21372081
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
David Cameron: EU must cut budget plans | David Cameron: EU must cut budget plans |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Proposals for the EU's long-term budget at November's summit were "much too high" and need to be reduced, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. | Proposals for the EU's long-term budget at November's summit were "much too high" and need to be reduced, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. |
As EU leaders gathered for the latest two-day budget summit in Brussels, Mr Cameron told reporters that there would be no deal if his demands were not met. | As EU leaders gathered for the latest two-day budget summit in Brussels, Mr Cameron told reporters that there would be no deal if his demands were not met. |
"Frankly the EU should not be immune from the sorts of pressures that we've had to reduce spending," he said. | "Frankly the EU should not be immune from the sorts of pressures that we've had to reduce spending," he said. |
The summit was convened to reach a deal on the next seven years of EU spending. | The summit was convened to reach a deal on the next seven years of EU spending. |
EU member states have had to "find efficiencies [and] make sure that we spend money wisely", he told waiting reporters. | EU member states have had to "find efficiencies [and] make sure that we spend money wisely", he told waiting reporters. |
"When we were last here in November, the numbers were much too high: they need to come down, and if they don't come down then there won't be a deal." | "When we were last here in November, the numbers were much too high: they need to come down, and if they don't come down then there won't be a deal." |
An unnamed EU official told AFP news agency that the formal meeting had been delayed to allow more time for discussions on a compromise. | |
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has urged leaders to negotiate "in a spirit of responsibility". | European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has urged leaders to negotiate "in a spirit of responsibility". |
"Further delays will send out a very negative message at this time of fragile economic recovery," he said. "The risk is that positions will harden and will be even more difficult to overcome." | "Further delays will send out a very negative message at this time of fragile economic recovery," he said. "The risk is that positions will harden and will be even more difficult to overcome." |
The Commission - the EU's executive body - had originally wanted a budget ceiling of 1.025tn euros (£885bn; $1.4tn) for 2014-2020, a 5% increase. In November that was trimmed back to 973bn euros and later revised down to 943bn euros. | The Commission - the EU's executive body - had originally wanted a budget ceiling of 1.025tn euros (£885bn; $1.4tn) for 2014-2020, a 5% increase. In November that was trimmed back to 973bn euros and later revised down to 943bn euros. |
But with other EU spending commitments included, that would still give an overall budget of 1.011tn euros. | |
The UK, Germany and other northern European nations want to lower EU spending increases to mirror the cuts being made by national governments across the Continent. | |
A grouping led by France and Italy wants to maintain spending but target it more at investment likely to create jobs. |