25th April 2012
Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, has hit out at proposals from the European Commission to increase the budget of the EU by 6.8 percent in 2013. This proposal is in contrast to that of Member States and MEPs, including Mr. Nicholson, who had called on the European Commission to show restraint at a time of severe economic hardship being experienced by citizens right across the EU.
Mr. Nicholson stated, “The EU often complains that the public feel disconnected from the institutions which were set up to serve them. It is no wonder this is the case when the Commission has once again shown themselves to be out of touch with the mood of the public who have absolutely no desire to see a further increase in the already significant amounts which Member States pay into the EU budget.
At a time of public spending constraint when the UK is under pressure to cut the public deficit while supporting our own citizen back into work and out of economic hardship, a proposed increase taking the UK contribution to over £14 billion a year is completely unacceptable.”