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20/06/2005
Blair – EU budget ‘not right’ for Britain
Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that the EU budget deal offered at last week’s European summit was “not right for Britain”.
Speaking in the House of Commons, following last week’s meeting of European leaders in Brussels, Mr Blair said: “It is said that the failure to reach a deal has deepened Europe’s crisis; that Europe’s credibility demanded a deal. No. Europe’s credibility demands the right deal. Not the usual cobbled together compromise in the early hours of the morning but a deal, which recognises the nature of the crisis.”
Last week’s summit collapsed due to the failure of France and Britain to agree on the UK’s £3 billion rebate. Mr Blair said that the subject of Britain’s rebate could not be discussed unless there was a “fundamental debate” on all budget spending, specifically the controversial Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which provides hefty subsidies to French farmers. Mr Chirac rejected the proposals to discuss French farm subsidies and Mr Blair rejected a proposal from Luxembourg to freeze the amount of Britain’s rebate until 2013.
Commenting on the rebate row today, Mr Blair said: “It simply does not make sense, in this new world for Europe to spend over 40% of its budget on the CAP, representing 5% of the EU population, producing less than 2% of the EU’s output. We are spending seven times as much on agriculture as on R&D, science, technology, education and support for innovation combined. This isn’t a budget fit for purpose in the 21st century. Even at the end of the next financial period i.e. by the beginning of the year 2014, we would be spending 40% on the CAP. Europe just cannot wait ten years or more for change.”
However, Mr Blair also said that the rebate was “merely a correction mechanism” and added: “As the EU has expanded and Britain has become more wealthy than countries like France, it is right that it changes. Our position therefore was not to refuse any change to the rebate, to rule out a discussion, or to disown our responsibility to pay for the enlargement of Europe we support passionately.”
The Prime Minister also described Luxembourg’s proposal to freeze the UK’s rebate as “inadequate”, saying that it would have cost the UK 25 million euros, which would have been redistributed between Europe’s richer countries, not the poorer ones.
Mr Blair said that the debate would continue when Britain assumed the EU presidency from Luxembourg next month. He said: “It is those who believe in Europe most who should be the most ardent advocates of changing it. The European Budget shouldn’t be separate from that debate but part of it. It is that debate which we will look forward to, in our Presidency.”
Mr Blair is due to give a speech to the European Parliament, detailing Britain’s plans for its sixth month presidency of the EU, on Thursday.
(KMcA)
Speaking in the House of Commons, following last week’s meeting of European leaders in Brussels, Mr Blair said: “It is said that the failure to reach a deal has deepened Europe’s crisis; that Europe’s credibility demanded a deal. No. Europe’s credibility demands the right deal. Not the usual cobbled together compromise in the early hours of the morning but a deal, which recognises the nature of the crisis.”
Last week’s summit collapsed due to the failure of France and Britain to agree on the UK’s £3 billion rebate. Mr Blair said that the subject of Britain’s rebate could not be discussed unless there was a “fundamental debate” on all budget spending, specifically the controversial Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which provides hefty subsidies to French farmers. Mr Chirac rejected the proposals to discuss French farm subsidies and Mr Blair rejected a proposal from Luxembourg to freeze the amount of Britain’s rebate until 2013.
Commenting on the rebate row today, Mr Blair said: “It simply does not make sense, in this new world for Europe to spend over 40% of its budget on the CAP, representing 5% of the EU population, producing less than 2% of the EU’s output. We are spending seven times as much on agriculture as on R&D, science, technology, education and support for innovation combined. This isn’t a budget fit for purpose in the 21st century. Even at the end of the next financial period i.e. by the beginning of the year 2014, we would be spending 40% on the CAP. Europe just cannot wait ten years or more for change.”
However, Mr Blair also said that the rebate was “merely a correction mechanism” and added: “As the EU has expanded and Britain has become more wealthy than countries like France, it is right that it changes. Our position therefore was not to refuse any change to the rebate, to rule out a discussion, or to disown our responsibility to pay for the enlargement of Europe we support passionately.”
The Prime Minister also described Luxembourg’s proposal to freeze the UK’s rebate as “inadequate”, saying that it would have cost the UK 25 million euros, which would have been redistributed between Europe’s richer countries, not the poorer ones.
Mr Blair said that the debate would continue when Britain assumed the EU presidency from Luxembourg next month. He said: “It is those who believe in Europe most who should be the most ardent advocates of changing it. The European Budget shouldn’t be separate from that debate but part of it. It is that debate which we will look forward to, in our Presidency.”
Mr Blair is due to give a speech to the European Parliament, detailing Britain’s plans for its sixth month presidency of the EU, on Thursday.
(KMcA)
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17 June 2005
Blair and Chirac deadlocked over EU budget
A decision on the European Union budget is looking increasingly unlikely as Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac continue to hold firm on their stances on Britain’s rebate at the European Summit in Brussels.
Blair and Chirac deadlocked over EU budget
A decision on the European Union budget is looking increasingly unlikely as Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac continue to hold firm on their stances on Britain’s rebate at the European Summit in Brussels.
13 June 2005
Blair to remain “firm” EU rebate
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that he will be “diplomatic but firm” with European leaders over the issue of the UK’s European Union rebate. The Prime Minister, who was in Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was speaking ahead of the forthcoming European summit, which takes place in Brussels on June 16 and 17.
Blair to remain “firm” EU rebate
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that he will be “diplomatic but firm” with European leaders over the issue of the UK’s European Union rebate. The Prime Minister, who was in Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was speaking ahead of the forthcoming European summit, which takes place in Brussels on June 16 and 17.
14 June 2005
Blair rejects proposed rebate freeze
A formal plan to freeze Britain’s £3 billion European Union rebate has been firmly rejected by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr Blair rejected the proposal, which was put forward during his meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister and current EU President Jean-Claude Juncker this morning.
Blair rejects proposed rebate freeze
A formal plan to freeze Britain’s £3 billion European Union rebate has been firmly rejected by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr Blair rejected the proposal, which was put forward during his meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister and current EU President Jean-Claude Juncker this morning.
02 December 2005
Blair ‘could compromise’ on EU budget
Prime Minister Tony Blair could compromise on Britain’s EU rebate in a bid to finalise a deal on the EU budget, it has been reported. Mr Blair is widely expected to offer to give up as much as 15% of the £3 billion rebate, in an attempt to break the deadlock over the EU budget.
Blair ‘could compromise’ on EU budget
Prime Minister Tony Blair could compromise on Britain’s EU rebate in a bid to finalise a deal on the EU budget, it has been reported. Mr Blair is widely expected to offer to give up as much as 15% of the £3 billion rebate, in an attempt to break the deadlock over the EU budget.
10 June 2005
Blair calls for review of EU funding
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he will not accept a reduction in Britain’s annual £3bn rebate from the European Union unless there is a debate about all EU funding.
Blair calls for review of EU funding
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he will not accept a reduction in Britain’s annual £3bn rebate from the European Union unless there is a debate about all EU funding.
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