EU: European Commission president José Manuel Barroso warned British prime minister Tony Blair yesterday not to act like a modern-day "Sheriff of Nottingham" by robbing poor member states to pay rich states in a new EU budget deal.
In comments made to Mr Blair during a discussion on agreeing a new EU budget, Mr Barroso referred to the legend of Robin Hood, in an effort to persuade Britain from cutting back on proposed financial aid in the budget to the 10 new EU states.
"You all know the old story of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. The president has made it very clear that he does not expect the British presidency to take the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, taking from the poor to give to the rich," a spokesman for Mr Barroso said yesterday.
The comments reflect concern within the commission that Britain wants to reduce the size of the next EU budget in an attempt to get agreement in December. It also suggests a growing tension between Mr Barroso and Mr Blair who, up until recently, have been firm allies promoting competitiveness and economic reform for the EU.
Leaks to the media suggest Britain is proposing to cut the amount of EU funding available to new member states to appease big contributors to the EU budget, such as Sweden, The Netherlands, Britain and Germany. Reducing the EU budget from 1.06 per cent of EU gross national income to 1.03 per cent would also reduce Britain's EU budget rebate, worth €4.6 billion in 2004.
New member states such as Poland have reacted angrily to suggestions of deep cuts in structural funds, while others such as the Czech Republic appear more flexible. British foreign secretary Jack Straw laughed off the criticism by Mr Barroso.
"Mr Barroso is a great man but I dare say his spokesman knows less about what happened in Sherwood Forest than some of us," said Mr Straw. "I might send him the film."
Meanwhile, new German chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament that Berlin was prepared to contribute to a reasonable and durable compromise on the EU budget that served all of Europe.
"But one thing is also quite clear: the new government will emphatically pursue German interests," she said.
"Given our budget position, we cannot accept any excessive financial demands in the light of our own problems."