Joint Statement on the 2011 EU budget
Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of 10 other EU Countries have signed a statement calling the proposed EU budget increases unacceptable.
In a statement sent to the President of the European Council, the leaders said:
“At the European Council on 28 and 29 October, we are discussing how the European Union can strengthen the mechanisms we have for ensuring Member States’ fiscal discipline.
It is important that the Union takes the necessary steps to ensure that we have robust systems that allow us to support the substantial deficit and debt reduction strategies now in place in Member States under the Stability and Growth Pact.
This discussion will take place against the backdrop of proposals from the Commission and the European Parliament for an increase in EU budget spending of around 6% in 2011. These proposals are especially unacceptable at a time when we are having to take difficult decisions at national level to control public expenditure.
The Council has proposed an increase in EU budget spending of 2.91% for 2011. We are clear that we cannot accept any more than this.”