Expatica - Chirac and Schroeder draw up battle lines against Blair

ExpaticaChirac and Schroeder draw up battle lines against Blair

"There must be justice in the financing of the EU budget," Chirac told journalists in Paris following talks with Schroeder. Britain, he said, must accept a "substantial cut in its rebate", which totals about GBP 3 billion (EUR 4.5 billion) a year. For his part, Schroeder said he and Chirac were prepared to compromise on the financing of the EU budget for the years 2007 to 2013, but that this must not be a "one-sided step". "Everyone must be prepared to make a gesture,"he said, adding that he agreed with Chirac in the points he made on the British rebate.