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Stop It · 24-10-2014, 09:32

Right, there are 2 possibilities on how this has happened:

1: This is based on a known formula that each country including the UK agreed to. Like a hedge on currencies etc, each country agreed that if their economy falters, they could pay less to the EU, if they do better, they pay more. If this is the case and is a result of a policy that wasn't publicised but UK govt knew about, then tough. If the opposite happened and we got to pay less because our economy was tanking, Cameron would be laughing.

2: If the EU just decided to change the rules without consulting each national govt first, then er...yeah. Considering our Dutch friends are near recession and asked to fork out another £500 too, which is more per capita than we are being asked to pony up I think they will be annoyed too.

From the article: "EU officials say it is a technical not a political decision, and it has been worked out under rules agreed by all member states"

That wording is tricky. It doesn't say that the process was agreed by all member states, just that the framework to do so was agreed. Surely Cameron & co should've been told this was going on. If they were, then they had the chance to veto it, if they didn't, then the extra payment should be refused.

This looks to be akin to your energy company telling you that your meter has been buggered for 20 years and now want the difference back. Technically correct by not exactly morally correct. I think the formula should be used going forward but the payments made historically should be final.

24-10-2014, 09:32	#4
Stop It Inactive Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Biggleswade Age: 41 Services: VM Vivid 200 VM XL TV & Sky Sports VM Phone Posts: 895	Re: EU demand extra 1.7bn from UK Right, there are 2 possibilities on how this has happened: 1: This is based on a known formula that each country including the UK agreed to. Like a hedge on currencies etc, each country agreed that if their economy falters, they could pay less to the EU, if they do better, they pay more. If this is the case and is a result of a policy that wasn't publicised but UK govt knew about, then tough. If the opposite happened and we got to pay less because our economy was tanking, Cameron would be laughing. 2: If the EU just decided to change the rules without consulting each national govt first, then er...yeah. Considering our Dutch friends are near recession and asked to fork out another £500 too, which is more per capita than we are being asked to pony up I think they will be annoyed too. From the article: "EU officials say it is a technical not a political decision, and it has been worked out under rules agreed by all member states" That wording is tricky. It doesn't say that the process was agreed by all member states, just that the framework to do so was agreed. Surely Cameron & co should've been told this was going on. If they were, then they had the chance to veto it, if they didn't, then the extra payment should be refused. This looks to be akin to your energy company telling you that your meter has been buggered for 20 years and now want the difference back. Technically correct by not exactly morally correct. I think the formula should be used going forward but the payments made historically should be final.