letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP |
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12th March 2008 |
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Daily Mail |
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Dear Editor, The claim that EU membership will cost British families £400 each by 2013 is based on decidedly warped mathematics (March 10th). Leaving aside our contributions to the EU budget, which is anyway capped at around 1% of EU GDP, the common market is worth £160 billion to our collective GDP - equivalent to roughly £1500 to every family in the UK . Similarly bogus is the notion that Tony Blair "surrendered" the British rebate at the budget review in 2005. The rebate remains part of the budget and will actually increase by 13% between 2007-13 (compared to an increase of just 6% for the EU budget) from an average of £3.9 billion per year to £4.5 billion. Moreover, while some may baulk at the idea of UK taxpayers providing money to the accession countries, the fact is that investing in economic stability in Eastern Europe benefits us all by increasing the total volume of EU trade, investment and jobs. For example, Britain 's bilateral trade in goods with Spain and Ireland (two of the poorest EU countries 20 years ago) is now worth £40 billion per year. It is one thing to be sceptical of our EU membership, but it is fatuous to suggest that we are paying through the nose for the privilege. Richard Corbett Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber
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