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EU budget: David Cameron says not enough progress made | EU budget: David Cameron says not enough progress made |
(about 3 hours later) | |
UK Prime Minister David Cameron says there is a "real problem" with a lack of progress in EU budget talks as they enter a second day. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron says there is a "real problem" with a lack of progress in EU budget talks as they enter a second day. |
Mr Cameron said it was not the time for "tinkering" with the money spent. | Mr Cameron said it was not the time for "tinkering" with the money spent. |
Instead, he told reporters, the EU needed to cut "unaffordable spending" as had been done in the UK. | Instead, he told reporters, the EU needed to cut "unaffordable spending" as had been done in the UK. |
Talks on the 2014-2020 budget have resumed after Thursday's discussion. Most EU members want a budget increase, but the UK and some others oppose that. | |
President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy circulated a revised proposal for the new budget at the start of the two-day summit and said he believed a compromise was possible. | President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy circulated a revised proposal for the new budget at the start of the two-day summit and said he believed a compromise was possible. |
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after Thursday's talks: "I think we're advancing a bit, but I doubt that we will reach a deal." | But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after Thursday's talks: "I think we're advancing a bit, but I doubt that we will reach a deal." |
French President Francois Hollande also cautioned that an agreement might not be possible: "We should not consider that if we don't get there tomorrow or the day after, all would be lost." | French President Francois Hollande also cautioned that an agreement might not be possible: "We should not consider that if we don't get there tomorrow or the day after, all would be lost." |
The 90-minute session late on Thursday followed a gruelling day of face-to-face meetings between Mr Van Rompuy and each of the bloc's leaders, followed by a flurry of backroom discussions. | The 90-minute session late on Thursday followed a gruelling day of face-to-face meetings between Mr Van Rompuy and each of the bloc's leaders, followed by a flurry of backroom discussions. |
Arriving for talks on Friday, Mr Cameron showed little signs of being happy with the talks so far. | Arriving for talks on Friday, Mr Cameron showed little signs of being happy with the talks so far. |
He said: "Well I don't think there's been enough progress so far. | He said: "Well I don't think there's been enough progress so far. |
"There really is a problem... there hasn't been the progress in cutting back proposals for additional spending. | "There really is a problem... there hasn't been the progress in cutting back proposals for additional spending. |
"It isn't a time for tinkering. It isn't a time for moving money from one part of the budget to another. We need unaffordable spending cut. That's what's happening at home, that's what needs to happen here." | "It isn't a time for tinkering. It isn't a time for moving money from one part of the budget to another. We need unaffordable spending cut. That's what's happening at home, that's what needs to happen here." |
Rebate 'justified' | Rebate 'justified' |
Mr Cameron met the German chancellor on Friday morning, with No 10 saying Mrs Merkel was "sympathetic" to the argument for further savings. | Mr Cameron met the German chancellor on Friday morning, with No 10 saying Mrs Merkel was "sympathetic" to the argument for further savings. |
However it is thought she has a different view of the level of savings that are possible. | However it is thought she has a different view of the level of savings that are possible. |
Mr Cameron is also meeting the leaders of Denmark and Holland on Friday morning and it is thought his aides are trying to arrange a meeting with the French president. | Mr Cameron is also meeting the leaders of Denmark and Holland on Friday morning and it is thought his aides are trying to arrange a meeting with the French president. |
The EU Commission, which drafts EU laws, has called for an increase of 4.8% on the 2007-2013 budget. | The EU Commission, which drafts EU laws, has called for an increase of 4.8% on the 2007-2013 budget. |
The UK is the most vocal of EU member states seeking cuts in the budget to match austerity programmes at home | The UK is the most vocal of EU member states seeking cuts in the budget to match austerity programmes at home |
"No, I'm not happy at all," Prime Minister David Cameron said about Mr Van Rompuy's offer to cap spending at 973bn euros (£783bn; $1.2trn). | "No, I'm not happy at all," Prime Minister David Cameron said about Mr Van Rompuy's offer to cap spending at 973bn euros (£783bn; $1.2trn). |
A Downing Street statement after Thursday's meeting said Mr Cameron had stressed the importance of the UK keeping its budget rebate, worth 3.5bn euros in 2011. | A Downing Street statement after Thursday's meeting said Mr Cameron had stressed the importance of the UK keeping its budget rebate, worth 3.5bn euros in 2011. |
The statement called the rebate "fully justified". The EU Commission and some EU governments want the rebate scrapped. | The statement called the rebate "fully justified". The EU Commission and some EU governments want the rebate scrapped. |
Mr Cameron has warned he may use his veto if other EU countries call for any rise in EU spending. The Netherlands and Sweden back his call for a freeze in spending, allowing for inflation. | Mr Cameron has warned he may use his veto if other EU countries call for any rise in EU spending. The Netherlands and Sweden back his call for a freeze in spending, allowing for inflation. |
Poland and its former-communist neighbours, which rely heavily on EU cash, want current spending maintained or raised. | Poland and its former-communist neighbours, which rely heavily on EU cash, want current spending maintained or raised. |
Mr Hollande has also called for subsidies for farming and development programmes to be sustained for poorer nations. France has traditionally been a big beneficiary of EU farm support. | Mr Hollande has also called for subsidies for farming and development programmes to be sustained for poorer nations. France has traditionally been a big beneficiary of EU farm support. |
Failure to agree on the budget would mean rolling over the 2013 budget into 2014 on a month-by-month basis, putting some long-term projects at risk. | Failure to agree on the budget would mean rolling over the 2013 budget into 2014 on a month-by-month basis, putting some long-term projects at risk. |
Analysts say that could leave the UK in a worse position, because the 2013 budget is bigger than the preceding years of the 2007-2013 budget round. | Analysts say that could leave the UK in a worse position, because the 2013 budget is bigger than the preceding years of the 2007-2013 budget round. |
The UK government could then end up with an EU budget higher than what it says it will accept now. | The UK government could then end up with an EU budget higher than what it says it will accept now. |