This article is from the source 'nytimes' 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.nytimes.com/2014/10/25/world/europe/european-union-orders-britain-to-pay-extra-27-billion.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
European Union Orders Britain to Pay Extra $2.7 Billion European Union Asks Britain to Pay Extra $2.7 Billion
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — A demand from the European Union for an extra payment worth $2.7 billion would not be welcome news for any European leader. For Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, the claim comes at a particularly difficult time, as he faces a crucial electoral battle with a populist party that wants Britain to walk away from the European Union. LONDON — A demand from the European Union for an extra payment worth $2.7 billion would not be welcome news for any European leader. For Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, the request on Friday comes at a particularly difficult time, as he faces a crucial electoral battle with a populist party that wants the nation to walk away from the European Union.
Mr. Cameron quickly rejected the demand as “totally unacceptable.”Mr. Cameron quickly rejected the demand as “totally unacceptable.”
The request for 1.7 billion pounds came after a recalculation of data showed that the British economy performed better in recent years than previously thought, suggesting that its payments into the European Union budget should rise according to the bloc’s formula for contributions. The payment would come in addition to Britain’s annual payment of about $13.8 billion to the union’s treasury. The request for the money, which is about 1.7 billion pounds, came after a recalculation of data showed that the British economy performed better in recent years than previously thought. That suggested that its payments into the European Union budget should rise according to the bloc’s formula for contributions. The payment would come in addition to Britain’s annual payment of about $13.8 billion to the bloc’s treasury.
In a country where membership in the European Union has become contentious, the demand is being portrayed as a punishment for Britain’s relative economic success compared with the performance of its neighbors on the Continent.In a country where membership in the European Union has become contentious, the demand is being portrayed as a punishment for Britain’s relative economic success compared with the performance of its neighbors on the Continent.
Speaking at a news media briefing at a European Union summit meeting in Brussels, Mr. Cameron described the additional fee as “unjustified” and said Britain would refuse to pay it. Speaking at a news briefing at a European Union summit meeting in Brussels, Mr. Cameron described the additional fee as “unjustified” and said Britain would refuse to pay it.
“If people think I am paying that on Dec. 1 — no, that is not happening,” said Mr. Cameron, who added that European finance ministers would meet to review the calculations used to come up with what he called a “vast” sum of taxpayers’ money.“If people think I am paying that on Dec. 1 — no, that is not happening,” said Mr. Cameron, who added that European finance ministers would meet to review the calculations used to come up with what he called a “vast” sum of taxpayers’ money.
The British leader described Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy as saying that the cash claim was a “lethal weapon” used by European Union officials “without a heart or a soul.”The British leader described Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy as saying that the cash claim was a “lethal weapon” used by European Union officials “without a heart or a soul.”
In theory, the extra contribution should be paid by Dec. 1, although Britain will most likely seek to delay and reduce the amount. A British official not authorized to speak publicly described the demand as “not acceptable.” In theory, the extra contribution should be paid by Dec. 1, although Britain will most likely seek to delay and reduce the amount. A British official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, described the demand as “not acceptable.”
Mr. Cameron has promised that he will renegotiate the terms of British membership in the European Union if he is re-elected next year, and that he will then hold a referendum in 2017 on whether to stay in the bloc.Mr. Cameron has promised that he will renegotiate the terms of British membership in the European Union if he is re-elected next year, and that he will then hold a referendum in 2017 on whether to stay in the bloc.
For the British prime minister, the timing and nature of the budget dispute could hardly be worse. He has tried to convince Britons that he has already made headway on overhauling the European Union, in part by insisting that it reduce overall spending.For the British prime minister, the timing and nature of the budget dispute could hardly be worse. He has tried to convince Britons that he has already made headway on overhauling the European Union, in part by insisting that it reduce overall spending.
The populist U.K. Independence Party, known as UKIP, which campaigns against immigration and for a British exit from the European Union, seized on the budget news Friday. The populist U.K. Independence Party, which campaigns against immigration and for a British exit from the European Union, seized on the budget news.
Jonathan Arnott, a UKIP member of the European Parliament, called the demand for the additional payment “outrageous.” Jonathan Arnott, a party member of the European Parliament, called the demand for the additional payment “outrageous.”
“Hard-pressed British taxpayers are being expected to cough up yet another pile of cash that we can’t afford,” he said in a statement. “Cameron is outmaneuvered at every stage by the European Union, and it’s our taxes that foot the bill”. “Hard-pressed British taxpayers are being expected to cough up yet another pile of cash that we can’t afford,” he said in a statement. “Cameron is outmaneuvered at every stage by the European Union, and it’s our taxes that foot the bill.”
This month, UKIP won its first elected seat in the British Parliament, to represent Clacton-on-Sea. The vote was held after a lawmaker from Mr. Cameron’s Conservative Party defected to UKIP, resigned and ran for the seat with his new party. This month, the U.K. Independence Party won its first elected seat in the British Parliament, to represent Clacton-on-Sea. The vote was held after a lawmaker from Mr. Cameron’s Conservative Party defected to the U.K. Independence Party, resigned and ran for the seat with his new party.
In a statement on Friday, the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the governing coalition, said they did not think the new assessment was justified. “We will work with other parties and countries that have just been landed with similar bills to challenge this,” they said.In a statement on Friday, the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the governing coalition, said they did not think the new assessment was justified. “We will work with other parties and countries that have just been landed with similar bills to challenge this,” they said.
The Netherlands, Italy and Greece are also slated to see their contributions rise, while France and Germany would get refunds. Greece, Italy and the Netherlands are also scheduled to see their contributions rise, while France and Germany would get refunds.
Within the Conservative Party, which fears that it will lose voters to UKIP, the demand provoked anger. John Redwood, a former minister, told the BBC that the surcharge “offended all our principles of natural justice and fair taxation” and was “a very large increase in tax on the British people charged retrospectively without their agreement.” Within the Conservative Party, which fears that it will lose voters to the U.K. Independence Party, the demand provoked anger. John Redwood, a former minister, told the BBC that the demand “offended all our principles of natural justice and fair taxation” and was “a very large increase in tax on the British people charged retrospectively without their agreement.”
The revision took place after the European Commission, the executive arm of the bloc, reviewed the economic performance of all member states since 1995 and revised its statistics to take into account elements such as the underground economy. The revision took place after the European Commission, the executive arm of the bloc, reviewed the economic performance of all member states since 1995 and changed its statistics to take into account elements such as the underground economy.