EU TO DEMAND €6 6BN FROM BRITAIN – British arms firms would then be allowed to bid for contracts.
The European Union will demand up to €6bn from Britain to increase its earnings from the bloc’s €150bn rearmament scheme.
Diplomatic sources described the demand as the European Commission’s “opening bid” for the UK to benefit more from the bloc’s Security Action For Europe (Safe) weapons fund.
Under the rearmament scheme, British arms firms, such as BAE Systems or Babcock International, would be allowed to bid for contracts worth up to 50 per cent of the Brussels war chest, if Sir Keir Starmer agreed to the trade-off.
An EU diplomat said: “The commission’s opening bid is 50 per cent for between €4-6bn.”
EU countries can spend 35 per cent of the money with firms in the UK or other like-minded allies under the scheme’s current rules.
Member states have signalled that they are willing to grant greater access to the fund, but only if third countries agree to contribute financially.
However, France demanded that any access be capped at 50 per cent in a bid to ensure European arms firms benefit.
