Saturday, June 18, 2005

Anger erupts as EU summit fails

According to this article on the BBC News website France, Germany and Luxembourg are angry that Britain will not negotiate its rebate. That is Germany, the EU's biggest economy; Luxembourg, the EU country with the highest GDP; and France, recipient of more farming subsidies than anyone else in the EU.

Jacques Chirac said Britain was being pathetic. He also said he was shocked by the arrogance of several rich countries in the talks.

Let me sum up why Britain is right on this:
  • If it wasn't for the rebate, we would be paying £4bn per year more than France in EU contributions despite being a smaller and less populated country
  • If it wasn't for Frances huge farming subsidies, the EU wouldn't need the extra money
  • Why should we be expected to negotiate away our subsidy for the good of the EU when France refuses to discuss its own farming subsidies? The subsidies paid out to farmers costs the EU nearly half of its budget

When our arrogant, money grabbing partners get their own house in order, perhaps then they can criticise us.