David Cameron welcomes EU budget cut

By THEO USHERWOOD
Published on 12/02/2013 00:00

DAVID Cameron yesterday hailed a real-terms cut in the European Union’s next seven-year budget as a good deal for Britain.

The Prime Minister told the House of Commons the UK had successfully rejected proposals by Europe’s “big spenders” for an increase in the budget, as he fought alongside Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden for a reduction in the EU’s credit card limit.

He told MPs it was “disappointing” administrative costs were still 6 per cent of the budget, but he was pleased spending on the Common Agricultural Policy would fall by 13 per cent on the last seven-year budget.

Mr Cameron, who was cheered by Tory backbenchers as he arrived in the Commons, said: “Reform of EU spending is a long-term project but this deal does deliver important progress.

“Working with allies we took real steps towards reform in the European Union.

“It is a good deal for Britain, a good deal for Europe and above all a good deal for all our taxpayers. That’s what we have ­delivered.”

He added that at last week’s summit the government had worked with “like-minded allies” to secure the reduction “for the first time in history”.

He said that had a deal not been reached, the current budget would have been rolled-over.