BRITAIN'S ANNUAL REBATE from the European Union appears to be under significant threat if this morning's papers are to be believed.
The Financial Times says the prime minister is coming under intense pressure to give up part of Britain's rebate to the EU budget as part of a deal that would see big cuts to European rural subsidies. The paper says Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg, will meet Tony Blair and French president, Jacques Chirac, over the next few days to try to hammer out a compromise deal before the EU summit on June 16-17.The FT claims Luxembourg, which currently holds the EU presidency, knows Blair will only move on the rebate if Chirac agrees to cuts in subsidies for his country's farmers...
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