Draft European Union Budget — 12 Jul 2012 at 16:30

The majority of MPs voted against stating the Prime Minister’s failure to secure allies had weakened the UK's ability to negotiate the EU budget but in favour of saying the 2005 decision to give away parts of the UK rebate had caused UK contributions to the EU to rise.

The amendment which was voted would have changed the wording of the substantive operative element of the motion; which originally stated

• supports the Government in seeking significant savings to the Commission’s proposals across all budget headings and in its strenuous efforts to limit the size of the 2013 European Union budget.

and the rejected amendment would have changed to:

• calls on the Government to strengthen its stance so that the 2013 Budget and the forthcoming Multi-Annual Financial Framework are reduced in real terms.”

both are very similar, in that they are both calling for significant reductions in the EU budget; there is little other than the wording selected to distinguish them.

Debate in Parliament | Source |