UK finally puts EU out of its misery: Brussels needed Britain to pass £6BN budget review
AFTER months of frustration, the European Union (EU) was finally put out of its misery after the UK approved a budget review.
The EU has been put out of its misery regarding an EU budget review
Britain had been holding out on the review since early spring, much to the anger of EU chiefs - including Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.
The bloc had been waiting for the UK to approve its midterm budget review, which did not have enough support to pass.
The UK held off on approving the review due to Theresa May’s decision to call a snap election, claiming politically sensitive matters had to be postponed during the campaign.
This infuriated Brussels, which accused the UK of playing mind games ahead of the Brexit negotiations.
In April a fuming Mr Barnier said: “I would appreciate it if the United Kingdom would work in the spirit of agreement with the EU, rather than against it.”
Gunther Oettinger, Germany’s European commissioner and the man responsible for the budget, had also hit out.
He said education, research, investment and jobs across the union were “at risk” due to the UK’s time-wasting.
He said in May: “This concerns most prominently the remaining €700m for the Youth Employment Initiative, which would send a negative signal from Europe to its youth in need of support.
Brexit talks between the UK and EU have got off to a tense start
“Without additional flexibility until 2020, the capacity of the EU budget to provide a meaningful financial response to unforeseen events will be seriously limited, particularly in the area of migration.”
The 2018 budget focuses on youth unemployment, the migrant crisis and economic growth.
The UK has finally approved the EU's budget review
An extra £5.3 billion will also be put towards refugees, security and public investment.
It comes two days after the Brexit negotiations finally began after months of build-up. Theresa May's Brexit negotiator David Davis has already been accused of bending the knee to the EU after dropping former demands regarding the timing of the talks and agreeing to the bloc's terms.