Haggling begins on who pays for EU enlargement
It looks like being a contest of wills as Viking determination to reach a solution clashes with a raft of self-interest.
The Danish presidency has warned it wants a decision, and has reserved hotel rooms until Sunday for the leaders even though the meeting is due to end on Friday night. Over the past few weeks and months, the big four net payers for the EU Germany, Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands have not blinked on the issue. They are adamant they will not foot the estimated 20 billion bill for farm subsidies and structural funds for the ten new members over the first three years of their membership from 2004. They are demanding that instead, Common Agriculture Policy payments should be reduced to meet the costs of enlarging the union. However, the battle lines are firmly drawn, with Ireland joining France and up to six other members in insisting their farmers will not suffer.
