Leaked document reveals EU demands for UK cash and halt to deportations

The EU is seeking financial contributions from the UK and asking the government to abandon plans to deport foreign prisoners to EU countries as part of negotiations to reset relations, according to leaked papers. A draft statement prepared by the bloc ahead of the UK-EU summit in Brussels this month outlines several demands, including financial contributions as a condition for Britain to access the EU’s single electricity market. The document, seen by Sky News, says the EU expects an “appropriate level of financial contribution towards reducing economic and social disparities between the regions of the EU.”

It adds that both sides hope to “conclude these negotiations swiftly” to allow the UK to access the market “as soon as possible.” The bloc is also seeking a commitment from Prime Minister Andy Burnham not to proceed with the removal and deportation of European offenders to EU countries following changes introduced this year that allow the Home Office to deport foreign nationals once they have been sentenced. Burnham has defended efforts to strengthen ties with the EU, saying it would be a “dereliction of duty” to ignore an opportunity to negotiate a new agreement with the bloc.

He has also insisted that he has public backing for the approach, while promising that the “public will be the boss” on closer relations with the EU. Asked whether it was acceptable for the UK to have its food trade rules determined by the EU without having a say, Burnham said the upcoming summit presented an opportunity to boost economic growth. “What’s facing me two weeks on Friday is a UK-EU summit where I have the opportunity to add to UK growth,” he told broadcasters.

“It’s estimated up to 0.4% extra on GDP. I think people in Britain would expect me to take that with both hands, given where we’ve been in recent times, and that’s what I’m doing. We’re not in the EU, therefore, we do have to work with them in a different way,” he added. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, a majority of Britons voted in favor of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. After the Brexit agreement was signed by representatives from Britain and the EU on Jan. 24, 2020, the UK officially withdrew from the bloc on Jan. 31 of that year.