By Daisy Ayliffe - 14th December 2005
The European Commission is increasingly worried EU leaders will not reach a budget deal at this week’s crucial council meeting.
The UK’s revised EU expenditure blueprint for 2007 to 2013 caused anguish in Brussels on Wednesday as the EU executive expressed mounting pessimism.
“If you want to know how I feel today, I feel more worried now than I did two or three days ago,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters after reading the UK’s most recent plans.
“The UK proposals fall far short of what I had hoped for. I am disappointed and I am worried,” he declared.
“I am pessimistic about finding accord – but I am determined to try.”
London tabled its revised plans with little major change to those unveiled on December 5.
The UK’s annual rebate – worth €5bn on current terms – and an €8bn offer to help fund EU enlargement - remain unchanged.
Barroso had hoped pre-match training would see all players focus on team spirit ahead of their two day council clash.
But as they head to Brussels for kick off on Thursday, the commission is worried the leaders lack a sense of cohesion.
“We need to see an EU that does not destroy solidarity,” Barroso warned.
“In my letter to the UK Presidency, I suggested that if their proposals were more flexible we would not have to distinguish between old and new member states.”
“The UK accepted this notion. This is a modest improvement,” he said before reiterating his fears.
“I still hope more will be done at council. We still have a long way to go in a very short time.”
Funding for new Eastern European member states has been increased by €1.6 billion under new plans.
But the commission warned this is still not enough to absorb new entrants in the years ahead.
“The proposed administrative cuts retained in the UK’s latest proposals make it impossible to accommodate Romania and Bulgaria into the EU’s current institutions,” Barroso stressed.
“I urge the UK to work for a deal for an enlarged EU.”
“We remain convinced that these proposals are the best basis for agreement and that there is very narrow room for negotiation. This is a tough but realistic budget,” a UK EU presidency spokesman hit back.
“We urge our partners to work towards agreement on this basis. We will see no better deal this week or next year.”
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