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UK Treasury opposes EU call for 'yet more money' | UK Treasury opposes EU call for 'yet more money' |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UK Treasury has said the European Commission should not be asking for "yet more money" from EU member states. | The UK Treasury has said the European Commission should not be asking for "yet more money" from EU member states. |
The commission has published proposals to increase the 2014 contributions from members by 2.16 billion euros (£1.76bn) to cover increased costs for growth and jobs schemes, and help for Ukraine. | The commission has published proposals to increase the 2014 contributions from members by 2.16 billion euros (£1.76bn) to cover increased costs for growth and jobs schemes, and help for Ukraine. |
It wants 4.73 billion euros (£3.85bn) in total but some will come from other sources including competition fines. | It wants 4.73 billion euros (£3.85bn) in total but some will come from other sources including competition fines. |
The Treasury said the commission should use "existing funds" to cover costs. | The Treasury said the commission should use "existing funds" to cover costs. |
Under a mechanism called the "contingency margin", the European Commission can call for extra funding for unforeseen circumstances. | Under a mechanism called the "contingency margin", the European Commission can call for extra funding for unforeseen circumstances. |
However, future budgets must decrease by the same amount to ensure overall spending between 2014 and 2020 stays within agreed limits. | However, future budgets must decrease by the same amount to ensure overall spending between 2014 and 2020 stays within agreed limits. |
'Fair deal' | |
A Treasury spokesperson said: "At a time when countries across Europe continue to take difficult decisions to deal with deficits, the European Commission should not be asking Europe's taxpayers for yet more money. | A Treasury spokesperson said: "At a time when countries across Europe continue to take difficult decisions to deal with deficits, the European Commission should not be asking Europe's taxpayers for yet more money. |
"The UK firmly believes the EU should manage any additional spending pressures through the reallocation of existing funds within the agreed budget. | "The UK firmly believes the EU should manage any additional spending pressures through the reallocation of existing funds within the agreed budget. |
"We will work with other governments to achieve a budget for this year which ensures budget discipline and reflects the economic reality in Europe, as well as the tough but fair deal done by the prime minister last year." | "We will work with other governments to achieve a budget for this year which ensures budget discipline and reflects the economic reality in Europe, as well as the tough but fair deal done by the prime minister last year." |
Last year the EU agreed a seven-year budget which included a real-terms spending cut, with maximum spending of 908 billion euros (£738bn at current values) from 2014-20. | |
The European Commission, the only part of the EU that can propose laws, is made up of one commissioner chosen by the government of each member state. | |
The commission is also responsible for ensuring EU legislation is "correctly applied" in member countries. |