The EU has raised its demand for Britain’s Brexit bill to an upfront gross payment of up to €100bn, according to Financial Times analysis of new demands driven by France and Germany.
Following requests from member states, EU negotiators have revised their initial calculations to maximise the liabilities Britain is asked to cover, including post-Brexit farm payments and EU administration fees in 2019 and 2020.
Although the final net bill would be lower than the €100bn upfront settlement, the more stringent approach to UK obligations significantly raises the estimated €60bn charge mentioned by Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president. It also reflects the hardening position of many EU members, which have dropped reservations about the political risks of the bill to pile on demands to help plug a Brexit-related hole in the bloc’s common budget.
