Five EU countries seek British funding commitment for electricity deal
The proposed condition would link market integration to regional development funding. Britain says neither a payment nor an amount has been agreed.
British participation in the EU electricity market should depend on payments towards regional development, five member states have argued ahead of the 20 November EU-UK summit. The demand comes from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, the countries' leaders sought a link between market access and British funding to help reduce disparities among EU regions. They also urged both sides to use the summit to chart a route towards concluding negotiations already under way.
A draft of the joint summit statement indicates wider support among EU leaders for a UK contribution to cohesion funds, although the wording is not final and may change before the meeting.
Britain has made no agreement on either a contribution or its size, said Martin McCluskey, UK Under Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net-Zero. He said discussions were aimed at understanding the EU proposal and that any payment would need to offer Britain value for money.
The five signatories also presented electricity integration as a way to give investors and businesses greater certainty and support North Sea offshore wind development. Their letter referred to ambitions for joint projects of up to 100 GW and offshore wind energy of 300 GW.
