The European Union plans to punish British taxpayers by slapping them with a tough fee if UK officials want to have a say in a €150billion defence deal, ministers have been told.
As European leaders gather in London for a summit on May 19, the latest defence and security agreement – seen as making Britons ‘pay to play’ – is expected to take centre stage.
It will follow a humiliating blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s negotiating skills after he allowed French President Emmanuel Macron better fishing rights for Europe in UK waters.
British anglers have recently voiced concerns that the PM would be in for another Brexit betrayal by using the fishermen as a “bargaining chip to be tossed overboard” to win favour with the bloc to boost negotiations in other policy areas.
Originally, the deal was that Starmer would hand over access to British waters for at least three years, British businesses – such as BAE Systems – will be allowed to bid and sign contracts for arms projects from Security Action For Europe (Safe) EU weapons fund.
But now it has been revealed that increased Parisian pressure has meant that the agreement will not grant an automatic right to bid on contracts for British companies.
“It will involve a ‘pay to play’ component and other terms and conditions,” a European diplomat told The Times.
“Some countries want the UK in the game and others, the French are not enthusiastic.”
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Sir Keir Starmer has sparked fears of yet another Brexit betrayal as MSPs quiver at the possibility that the PM could buckle to EU pressure over British waters, Facts4EU and GB News can reveal.
While the deadline for UK-EU fisheries edges ever closer, the Scottish Parliament has erupted in a fiery debate as politicians demand that Labour will not capitulate to the economic bloc at an upcoming summit in May.
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