EU rebate deal will cost £1.9bn a year by 2010

mkpdavies · 21-12-2005, 03:44 AM

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e0572e9e-71...0779e2340.html

Quote:

Gordon Brown yesterday unveiled the full price of the UK's recent concession on its European Union budget rebate, stating the annual cost to the Treasury would hit about £1.9bn a year by the end of the decade.

As Tony Blair continued to defend the budget deal in a visit to the European parliament, the chancellor said the annual cost to the taxpayer of the concession would progressively rise from 2008 to 2013.

Do you believe all this Brown anger stuff? It all seems a bit suspicous to me. Are Labour going to do a Tory trick and pretend to be EU-sceptic when Brown takes over, just as the Tories turn all pro-EU? That would be convienient wouldn't it, just as the British are about to dump Labour for maybe the Tories, the Tories suddenly say they are for the EU. The sheeple grumble, but want Labour out so bad, that they hand over to the Tories who claim a pro-EU mandate.

My conspiracy thinkign mind ticking over again. Ignore me!

John Page · 21-12-2005, 06:42 AM

I stick to my view that Brown is laying a trail so that if he decides on EU withdrawal when he's PM he'll be able to point to a track record of covert euroscepticism.

At the moment I think he's only (say) 10% likely to withdraw, but I think it's there in his mind as a long term, long shot option.

That's because membership will increasingly interfere with his (doubtless detailed!) plans for the UK when he's PM.

John Page

Biscuitman · 21-12-2005, 07:42 PM

http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/...ews/NEWS2.html

Concern over £500m Euro aid for region
by Robert Merrick

FEARS were growing last night that County Durham and Tees Valley would miss out on most of a promised £500m Euro-aid package.

It followed the Government's announcement that the weekend deal to cap the Brussels budget had slashed £28bn off the sum set aside for development aid across the European Union.

That, in turn, threatens the announcement last year that County Durham and Tees Valley was in line for about £500m of aid over the six years between 2007 and 2013.

The money, called Convergence and Competitiveness funding, is matched pound-for-pound by the Government to boost jobs by attracting investment to struggling areas.

But Merseyside and South Yorkshire - areas of similar levels of deprivation - had their allocations slashed in half yesterday because of the smaller overall budget.

There was no mention of County Durham and Tees Valley, because other detailed spending allocations will not be decided until some time next year.

Last night, the Government insisted it had already significantly boosted its own spending on regeneration projects, and would continue to do so in future years.

But MPs said they were fearful the Treasury would fail to make up any shortfall as a funding "black hole" forced the Chancellor to tighten the purse strings.

The controversial budget deal will already force Gordon Brown to find an extra £1bn a year for his spending priorities as Britain gives up a slice of its EU rebate.

County Durham and Tees Valley was due to be eligible for up to £500m because its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head had slipped to 75 per cent of the average of the 15 oldest EU members.

But the package was dependent on the Brussels budget growing to 1.11 per cent of EU income. It will now be capped at 1.045 per cent, as Britain and others cut their contributions.

That means total "structural and cohesion" spending will be £208bn over the next seven years - instead of the £236bn the commission wanted.

Separately, the money for County Durham and Tees Valley is threatened because more recent EU figures pushed its GDP per head to 75.9 per cent of the EU-15 average.

That was because the commission included "extra-regio" revenues from offshore oil and gas revenues, a decision being fought by the British government.

That dispute should be settled early next year, when more up-to-date GDP figures - for the years 2001-3 - are published.

mkpdavies · 21-12-2005, 07:48 PM

Perhaps they should put some "Thank EU For Nothing" posters now.

Still gotta love the idea of British government outsourcing development of this country to the EU, by paying out X and geting X-loads back!

Genius!

21-12-2005, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Biscuitman Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 3,486	http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/...ews/NEWS2.html Concern over £500m Euro aid for region by Robert Merrick FEARS were growing last night that County Durham and Tees Valley would miss out on most of a promised £500m Euro-aid package. It followed the Government's announcement that the weekend deal to cap the Brussels budget had slashed £28bn off the sum set aside for development aid across the European Union. That, in turn, threatens the announcement last year that County Durham and Tees Valley was in line for about £500m of aid over the six years between 2007 and 2013. The money, called Convergence and Competitiveness funding, is matched pound-for-pound by the Government to boost jobs by attracting investment to struggling areas. But Merseyside and South Yorkshire - areas of similar levels of deprivation - had their allocations slashed in half yesterday because of the smaller overall budget. There was no mention of County Durham and Tees Valley, because other detailed spending allocations will not be decided until some time next year. Last night, the Government insisted it had already significantly boosted its own spending on regeneration projects, and would continue to do so in future years. But MPs said they were fearful the Treasury would fail to make up any shortfall as a funding "black hole" forced the Chancellor to tighten the purse strings. The controversial budget deal will already force Gordon Brown to find an extra £1bn a year for his spending priorities as Britain gives up a slice of its EU rebate. County Durham and Tees Valley was due to be eligible for up to £500m because its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head had slipped to 75 per cent of the average of the 15 oldest EU members. But the package was dependent on the Brussels budget growing to 1.11 per cent of EU income. It will now be capped at 1.045 per cent, as Britain and others cut their contributions. That means total "structural and cohesion" spending will be £208bn over the next seven years - instead of the £236bn the commission wanted. Separately, the money for County Durham and Tees Valley is threatened because more recent EU figures pushed its GDP per head to 75.9 per cent of the EU-15 average. That was because the commission included "extra-regio" revenues from offshore oil and gas revenues, a decision being fought by the British government. That dispute should be settled early next year, when more up-to-date GDP figures - for the years 2001-3 - are published. __________________ IF THE EU WAS THE ANSWER, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A STUPID QUESTION!

21-12-2005, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,034 Party: Libertarian Party	Perhaps they should put some "Thank EU For Nothing" posters now. Still gotta love the idea of British government outsourcing development of this country to the EU, by paying out X and geting X-loads back! Genius! __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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21-12-2005, 06:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
John Page Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Welwyn Hatfield (Herts.) Posts: 1,878	I stick to my view that Brown is laying a trail so that if he decides on EU withdrawal when he's PM he'll be able to point to a track record of covert euroscepticism. At the moment I think he's only (say) 10% likely to withdraw, but I think it's there in his mind as a long term, long shot option. That's because membership will increasingly interfere with his (doubtless detailed!) plans for the UK when he's PM. John Page