| answer text |
<p>Last year, the UK was presented with a bill for an additional payment to the EU
worth £1.7 billion, reflecting changes to economic data for all Member States and
dating as far back as 2002 for the UK. The Prime Minister was clear that this sudden
production of a bill to Britain for payment on the 1 December was completely unacceptable.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>EU Ministers met on the 7 November, and the Chancellor secured
an agreement which meant the UK paid nothing on 1 December. Instead the payment will
be made in instalments next year, and no fines or interest will be applied. The UK
will also not pay £1.7 billion. The British rebate will apply in full, and apply simultaneously
with the payment, not a year in arrears as normal. This means the Government has halved
the bill, to around £850 million.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Lastly, the UK won
agreement to change the regulations to ensure this never happens again. In the future,
if any country received an adjustment demand that is excessive, it will have the same
opportunity to phase payments so that they are more affordable.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The
Government will continue to press for necessary restraint and discipline in all areas
of the EU Budget in order to get the best deal for British taxpayers.</p>
|
|
