There is a piece of gossip floating around Brussels. The gist of it
is this: the British want to reduce the European Union budget to 85
percent of what it is today. That is to say, that the contributions
from national governments should not exceed 0.85 percent of their
national GDP, compared to the current one percent.
This would effectively mean shutting down quite a few EU projects.
But instead of engaging in the traditional Brussels discussion of
what such a reduction would mean and what policies would have to be
forgotten, let us ponder another thought.
If the British really want to shrink the EU budget to 85 percent of
what it is today, they should do it themselves and do not force
others to do so.
Sure, why not. After all, the UK is already only about 85 percent
part of the EU anyways. With all its opt-outs in economic, monetary,
justice, migration and home policies, it is not a full member of the
Union any more. Step by step over the past 20 years it has separated
itself from the project more and more. Hence it's fine, the British
should not pay 100 percent of what the others pay, they should pay
less.
Did I forget something? Oh, yes. The British already
pay less. After all there is this costly elephant, this...what
is it called? The British rebate. The smaller and poorer nations of
the EU are paying for the British Queen’s agricultural subsidies
and are sponsoring research at Europe’s best universities, which
happen to be located mostly…in the UK.
So, the deal is obvious: let the rebate go, and the UK pays 85
percent of what other states pay. It would not be a new rebate,
though – the UK benefits should be also reduced to 85 percent of
others’ benefits.
So, MEPs elected from the UK as well as EU officials with British
passports would earn 85 percent of what their colleagues make. The
farm subsidies would be reduced accordingly, and the sums allocated
to the British universities and research centers would shrink by 15
percent.
After all, if Britain wants to be at a partial remove, let it be so.
But there's no reason for the rest of the EU to subsidize this
special treatment.
This article is rather Anti British in its overtone with no reasons given for that at all. Whether you like it or not the whole of Europe is undergoing austerity. The EU budget can be cut by 15% easily by cutting the expenses and wages of its meps, councillors and parliaments. . Moreover the cutting of excessive grants for ridiculous projects and massive costs would easily make a 15% cut possible.
But Poland has to realise the massive money the EU is giving freely yes giving from taxpayers in countries where people face losing their jobs isn't a god given right for Poland. Poland's inability to find people to fill out forms quickly enough or sufficiently enough to get grants coupled with the governments inability to fund the remaining 10% of projects is why Poland hasn't had as much EU money as it could have.
Farm subsidies should be ended full stop we are forcing farmers in third world countries in to bankruptcy via these subsidies and no one offers a shop owner a grant because he insists on running an unprofitable inefficient business so why should farmers be immune to market forces, the eu has so much food we destroy it to keep up prices which is clearly immoral.
If Poland wants to be so madralinski about Britain's EU stance, perhaps our treasury should send the bill for NHS free treatment, free housing , social welfare and benefits currently enjoyed and given freely by Britain to Poles living in England ?
Poland still hasnt changed any of the laws its was demanded to do so when it joined the EU, can't even produce voting papers in any EU language, a case of give us the money don't ask any questions but don't ask us to abide by the rules .
Poland doesn't abide by EU laws , regarding rights of immigrants, disabled people or other minority groups or in the case of languages. Britain isn't in the Euro and neither is Poland. Articles like yours don't do much do they for two countries which have a long history of co-operation and business. Britian gave homes to 500,000 Polish soldiers after world war 2 and passports to every one, ensuring there will always be a Poland in England. Personally I would prefer we wrote about Anglo Polish success and co-operation .
