Cameron move to freeze budget risks EU split

EFFORTS by British Prime Minister David Cameron to limit the EU’s budget, possibly for the next decade, were set to split the Union as its two-day summit ended.

Cameron, under pressure from eurosceptics in his own party and facing problems over getting the EU treaty amended without a referendum, has got the backing of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

A letter by Cameron, due to be released today, will propose freezing the EU’s long-term budget for 2014 to 2020 at the 2013 level and increasing it only in line with inflation.