UK faces £1B annual bill for deeper EU integration — The Times
Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Getty Images)
The European Union has set a condition for London: annual payments of around £1 billion to European budgets, as a fee for continued access to the single market. This is the UK’s first such contribution since Brexit. Starmer will discuss the details at the European Political Community summit in Armenia on Monday, according to The Times.
European negotiators have made it clear: these payments are a mandatory condition for Britain’s continued integration into the single market.
One European diplomat says if the UK wants more integration, it has to pay for participation. This is nothing unusual, he adds.
The amount was calculated based on the example of Switzerland, which last year agreed to pay 375 million euros per year for privileged access to the EU market.
Since the British economy is roughly four times larger than Switzerland’s, London is expected to contribute about £1 billion per year.
What UK wants in return
London is primarily interested in mutual recognition of product standards in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and automotive sectors, so that exporters do not have to spend money on re-certifying goods.
British defense companies will also be able to supply equipment to Ukraine under the EU’s £78 billion credit scheme, with a financial contribution from London of up to £400 million.
Political sensitivity
The decision has already drawn criticism from the opposition. Foreign Secretary Priti Patel called the payments taxpayers’ money handed over to European institutions without a democratic mandate. The Conservatives and Reform UK have vowed to scrap Starmer’s plans for greater integration.
At the same time, a poll among Labour Party members showed that 65% of them would like the party to pledge a full return to the EU in the next election.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks during which they discussed defense support, energy security, and peace initiatives.
Earlier, Finland announced the allocation of $300 million to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. As part of this assistance, the parties discussed in detail the issue of strengthening Ukraine’s air defense.
