We Cannot Afford To Belong To This 'Exclusive Club.'

Meanwhile, the European Commission has demanded a further £7.3bn for the current year’s budget, adding £700m to Britain’s bill. At the same time, the European Parliament voted for a 6.8% increase in the 2013 budget, raising Britain’s annual gross contribution from £15bn to £16.3bn. Taken together they would add £2bn to Britain’s commitments over the next two years. The EP also backed a 5% increase to the EU’s 2014-2020 budget, in line with the European Commission’s original proposal. Open Europe Director Mats Persson is quoted as saying, “This is a spectacular own goal for the Brussels institutions. Both national governments and households have to pay bills at the end of the month or year. Just like them, the Commission must learn how to prioritise and find savings if there is not enough in the pot.”

Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees de Jager said the European Parliament’s vote was “incomprehensible”, adding “This can't be the case, the Netherlands will vote against this with vigour.”

Open Europe.