EU crisis: Netherlands REFUSES to pay more as Brexit budget blackhole row erupts | World

February 8, 2020

EU crisis: Netherlands REFUSES to pay more as Brexit budget blackhole row erupts | WorldTHE NETHERLANDS has warned Brussels chiefs it will not pay more into the EU budget as Brussels bosses count the cost of life without Britain after Brexit. PUBLISHED: 14:42, Thu, Feb 6, 2020 | UPDATED: 07:09, Fri, Feb 7, 2020 0 Dutch Prime Minister said the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Denmark – dubbed the “frugal five” – should not contribute more in the face of the EU ’s financial woes following Britain’s exit from the bloc and migration pressures. He said: “We are net payers and I don’t see why we have to pay more.”. Related articles EU CRISIS: The real reason EU wouldn’t let Britain go The Dutch leader told EU President Charles Michel his nation had already faced financial setbacks from Brussels when forced to stump up more due to migration and Brexit, NL Times reported. His comments show the cracks starting to emerge in the 27-member bloc, who put on a united front in Brexit talks, as they battle it out over the Union’s €1.1 trillion budget for the next seven years. On one side is the ‘frugal five’ and on the other is a group of less wealthy EU member states calling itself the ‘Friends of Cohesion’.

'Typical EU!' Fury as Brussels demands UK pays £1bn bill - 'Britain MUST stick to rules'BRUSSELS sparked fury today after refusing to back down in a row over fresh demands for a whopping £1 billion bill. PUBLISHED: 15:01, Thu, Feb 6, 2020 | UPDATED: 17:39, Thu, Feb 6, 2020 0 The European Commission said Britain “must stick to the rules” despite having left the bloc last Friday at 11pm. On Brexit day, the EU executive sent the Government cash demands for an extra £1.09 billion towards its 2019-2020 budget. It means Britain could end up handing over £10 billion to the bloc this year while the country remains in the transition period. Related articles Remainer sabotages Brexit 50p coins and declares ‘battle has begun’ A Commission spokesman insisted the demands are non-negotiable while the UK remains locked to EU rules. They said: “The UK has been informed of what needs to be done and we would like to stick with the rules. “Member states have the obligation to pay their contribution to the budget and there are procedures to make sure they do and these apply as all rights and obligations do to the UK as long as it’s a member of the EU. “It was still a member at that day and then those obligations continue.”