Brexit talks paper reveals ‘Britain may be forced to make EU payments YEARS after divorce’
BRITAIN could be forced to pay some of the European Unions’s outstanding obligations for years after Brexit under a proposed agreement from Brussels, it has been reported.
German deputy finance minister tells UK to pay its 'obligations'
A draft Brexit talks paper, which is to be discussed among EU diplomats next week, has revealed Brussels bureaucrats believes Britain owes money to the Union as part of a financial settlement, according to Reuters.
Four pages of the paper’s appendix reportedly provide a detailed list of more than 70 EU bodies and funds which Britain allegedly has committed payment to in a budget set out until 2020.
Among obligations Britain will be asked to cover include promises to fund Syrian refugees in Turkey, aid for the Central African Republic, the EU aviation safety agency and the European Institute for Gender Equality.
Britain may be force to pay the EU years after Brexit
EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier say no Brexit bill figure has been set
The paper reportedly states: "The United Kingdom obligations should be fixed as a percentage of the EU obligations calculated at the date of withdrawal in accordance with a methodology to be agreed in the first phase of the negotiations.”
It also claims that British people, businesses and organisations would continue to benefit from some of the EU’s funds for some time after Brexit.
But it understood the three-page main document made no mention of Britain getting credit for a share of EU buildings, as British ministers have said it should have.
Absolutely preposterous
However, Britain will be entitled to its £34billion share of the capital of the European Investment Bank, according to the paper.
The negotiating document, which will be presented to London in the week of June 19, is understood to have set no divorce figure.
Brussels chief negotiator Michel Barnier has claimed a divorce fee cannot be calculated until the time of Britain’s exit in March 2019 as it will depend on the EU's spending, but insists Britain needs to initially agree on how the "Brexit bill" will be calculated.
Nuttall on Brexit bill: We should not be paying anything
Brexit talks will begin following after the General Election on June 8 and claims from Theresa May's Government that the Union might end up owing Britain have been dismissed by Brussels.
EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker has said Britain may have to pay up to £52billion (€60billion) on departure.
But some experts have estimated the up-front cost, before later refunds, could be nearly double that.
Boris Johnson has called Mr Juncker’s proposed figures "absolutely preposterous".