Britain asked to cough up £1.9 billion to the EU

I heard that one of the reasons why we've been lumbered with this bill is that we had to adjust our GDP to account for prostitution and drug taking (because these are legal/semi-legal in some EU countries). So our wonderful establishment did a thorough analysis on how much prostitution and drug taking goes on using the latest crime surveys and reports and came up with a reasonable estimate. Meanwhile the French just said because these things are illegal in France no-one does them and so they only add an insignificant amount to their GDP.

Seems like once again we're being punished for being honest in the EU.
 
AlecR said:
So, just to confirm: because our economy is good (relatively), we get punished?

Sorry, is this Fascist Germany?
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Do you have similar feelings every time you look at your wage slip?

Paying based on your ability to pay is hardly controversial.
 
Tunney said:
Do you have similar feelings every time you look at your wage slip?

Paying based on your ability to pay is hardly controversial.
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Labour and LibDems and their supporters don't have a leg to stand on complaining about this, aren't they the ones who keep banging on about those with the "Broadest Shoulders"? Has kinda bit them in the arse now hasn't it?
 
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motsy said:
But no doubt Cameron'll negotiate another deal.
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Cameron has time and time demonstrated that he is basically incapable of effective negotiation in Europe. In terms of EU diplomacy he's probably been the worst PM we've had since we joined; stupid decisions such as pulling the Tory party out of the major centre right block have sapped his ability to put out the necessary feelers and make alliances in Europe.

I have no faith at all in his ability to get a better deal. The only thing on his side is that some of the other leaders are also unhappy and they've been rather more competent in Europe.
 
So all of the misery that the Conservatives have heaped upon the disabled and poorest in society under the guise of austerity was a complete waste of energy in the end... I bet they enjoyed it at least.
 
The PM standing up in the house of commons at 3:30pm to explain how he did in EU meetings this week, catch it live on iPlayer, Parliament Channel
 
robgmun said:
Which is irrelevant regardless because the money is coming out of the Tax everyone has paid in this country, not out of GDP, you trying to make it sound painless which it certainly is not!
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The GDP figure is to give perspective to the mouth frothers.
The cost to tax payers is around 1 pence a day averaged over the time period, exceedingly painful!:D
 
AlecR said:
So, just to confirm: because our economy is good (relatively), we get punished?

Sorry, is this Fascist Germany?
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No, Britain agreed to changes in the way GNI is reported and agreed to re-calculated the balance going back. The contribution to the Eu is based on a fixed percentage of GNI which can only be roughly estimated for the future and so must be corrected for under or over payments in the past.
 
D.P. said:
No, Britain agreed to changes in the way GNI is reported and agreed to re-calculated the balance going back. The contribution to the Eu is based on a fixed percentage of GNI which can only be roughly estimated for the future and so must be corrected for under or over payments in the past.
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Indeed.

From what I've read.

1. We agreed to calculate our contributions based on a certain criteria.
2. This criteria was miscalculated previously & we are paying a 11 year catch up fee.
3. Our total forward going contributions towards the EU have at most increased by £200m for this assuming the increase is applied going forward.
4. The UK has received rebates of it's own (£68 billion in total by 2010).
 
D.P. said:
The GDP figure is to give perspective to the mouth frothers.
The cost to tax payers is around 1 pence a day averaged over the time period, exceedingly painful!:D
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Which can go towards building new schools, hospitals, getting more police or arming our guys in the army. It's sick that the money that could towards these things go towards EU bureaucrats, it's not painless at all and it's disturbing that you think it's ok to give away this money.

Disgusting attitude
 
robgmun said:
Which can go towards building new schools, hospitals, getting more police or arming our guys in the army. It's sick that the money that could towards these things go towards EU bureaucrats, it's not painless at all and it's disturbing that you think it's ok to give away this money.

Disgusting attitude
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A small percentage is spent on EU bureaucrats, far less in relative terms than is spent on national bureaucrats. A vast majority is reinvested into the EU.

By far the greatest offenders of EU bureaucrats wasting tax payers money is the UKIP MEPs that seem very happy to squander their salaries ande exploit their expenses while doing nothing productive in the EU and voting against Britain's interests.


Britain pay 300X more money in to defense every single compared to this one off charge . A 10% reduction in annual defense budget would allow many new school, better paid teachers, improved health case.
Disgusting attitude that we allow so much waste.
 
robgmun said:
Labour and LibDems and their supporters don't have a leg to stand on complaining about this, aren't they the ones who keep banging on about those with the "Broadest Shoulders"? Has kinda bit them in the arse now hasn't it?
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Only if you believe that the UK shouldn't be paying the extra £1.7bn.
 
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