Britain's EU budget rebate under threat. Again

Before the year is out, EU leaders will start the wrangle over their next Budget

Since the Coalition was formed, European matters have been far off the UK political agenda. Partly, this is because most ministerial attention has been elsewhere, and partly because the EU debate has, from a parochial British perspective, been a little disparate and abstract.

That will change, because the conversation will turn to money. Before the year is out, EU leaders will start the wrangle over their next Budget. And yes, the British rebate will be centre of attention again, as various EU members and officials argue that the UK should pay more for its membership of the club.

We've had an early salvo today from Janusz Lewandowski, the budget commissioner. "The British rebate has lost its original justification," he tells Handelsblatt. Without the rebate, British membership of the EU would cost another couple of billion quid a year.

See here for EU Observer's translation.

Earlier this year, attending David Cameron's first EU summit in Brussels, I asked, is the PM softening his attitude to Europe? A nice old-fashioned row over the EU budget will give him chance to answer.