The EU will demand the UK pays into Brussels budgets designed to help poorer European countries as the price of a Brexit reset deal to bring down energy bills.
With both sides scrambling to deal with soaring energy costs due to Donald Trump’s Iran war, the EU has formalised a demand that the UK contributes to Brussels’ “cohesion policy” if it wants a deal to join the continent’s single market for electricity.
It is likely to lead to a clash with the UK, with EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds telling The i Paper in December that Britain would “not make general contributions to the EU budget” to get an electricity deal, and comes amid wider Brexit reset tensions.
However, that resistance is likely to be tested amid a growing global energy crisis – UK participation in the EU electricity market would allow British firms to export energy to the bloc, and is hailed by both sides as a way to drive down household bills, boost profits and investment in the industry, and bolster energy security.
Pressure growing on electricity bills
In a sign of the pressure on electricity bills, Cornwall Insight last week forecast that electricity costs for businesses increased between 10 per cent and 30 per cent since the war began in late February.
EU member states agreed to make the demand for contributions to the cohesion fund their official negotiating position.
The European Council – made up of the heads of EU governments – said that an electricity deal would mean the UK participating in the European electricity market by aligning with Brussels law, “thus significantly contributing to energy security for both parties, especially amid the current geopolitical turmoil”.
However, there should be a “parallel” negotiation on a UK financial contribution “towards reducing disparities between the EU regions”, with the Council arguing this was “part of a consistent EU policy that couples the granting of market access to a third country with a fair financial contribution reflecting the benefits derived from such access”.
EU also agrees access to the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme
Alongside this, the Council formally agreed to allow the UK to join the Erasmus+ exchange programme, which both sides agreed at headline level in December.
Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs in Cyprus, which holds the rotating Council presidency, said: “Strengthening the Union’s relations with the United Kingdom is a key priority of the Cyprus presidency.
“Today’s decisions mark tangible progress in delivering on the outcomes of the first EU–UK Summit held in May last year, where we opened a new chapter in our partnership.
“By promoting learning mobility via Erasmus+, we are advancing shared interests and reinforcing people-to-people ties, especially for our youth.
“At the same time, by deepening cooperation in electricity, we are enhancing energy security and creating new opportunities for businesses.
“These decisions undoubtedly mark a significant step in forging a strong, mutually beneficial, and forward-looking EU-UK partnership.”
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