The UK has rejected Brussels’ demand for up to €6.75 billion to join the EU’s ‘SAFE’ defence fund, according to Bloomberg. The European Commission had asked Britain to cough up between €4 billion and €6.5 billion to join the fund, along with an ‘administration fee’ of up to €250 million. The EC claims the €150 billion fund is important to deterring Russian aggression, and allows states to borrow money to invest in defence projects whose primary manufacturing is in the UE, Ukraine, and EEA-EFTA. Bloomberg is reporting it’s the French who are taking the most hardline position on extracting the cash from Britain…
A government spokesman said today:
“We will only agree deals that provide value to the UK and UK industry… Nothing has been agreed, and we will not give a running commentary on ongoing talks.”
Negotiations are ‘ongoing’ to try to bring the figure down. Some EU countries are more sympathetic, though that’s clearly not a universal view. The French aren’t alone in wanting to drive a hard bargain. When even Starmer is balking at surrendering to Brussels, you know they’re having a laugh…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”