Yesterday, 22nd November 2012, the Parliamentary Information Office reported that the Prime Minister is calling for restraint in EU spending as he arrived in Brussels for budget negotiations.

Arriving in Brussels, Mr Cameron said:

“These are very important negotiations. Clearly at a time when we are making difficult decisions at home over public spending it would be quite wrong – it is quite wrong – for there to be proposals for this increased extra spending in the EU.

“So we are going to be negotiating very hard for a good deal for Britain’s taxpayers, for Europe’s taxpayers, and to keep the British rebate.”

Mr Cameron met with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council president – and summit chairman – Herman Van Rompuy before the talks began. Downing Street issued a statement following the meeting.

The Downing Street spokesman said:

“The Prime Minister met with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso this morning.

“The meeting lasted around 30 to 35 minutes and was the first bilateral of the day. The Prime Minister set out our position that while the latest proposals were a step in the right direction they did not go far enough and that we think more can be done to rein in spending.

“He also set out the UK’s position on the rebate that it was fully justified and we did not support any changes.

“It was clear that there was a long way to go before we had a deal that reflected the difficult decisions being taken by member states.

“As the Prime Minister said this morning: “we are going to be negotiating very hard for a good deal for Britain’s taxpayers and Europe’s taxpayers and to keep the British rebate.”

The Parliamentary Information Office will report on the outcome of the Council negotiations and, of course, on the draft and final budgets.

Web: www.parliamentaryyearbookinformationoffice.co.uk
Email: [email protected]