Senior European diplomats have indicated that the UK would need to pay approximately £1 billion annually to secure a closer relationship with the European Union, in what is described as a 'pay to play' arrangement. The demand comes as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to outline his vision for a reset in UK-EU relations at the European Political Community summit in Armenia on Monday.
A European diplomat told The Times: “If the UK wants further integration they must ‘pay to play’. That is not unusual.” However, the Government declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations, with a spokesman saying: “We won’t comment on ongoing negotiations.”
Under plans expected to be unveiled in the King’s Speech, the Government will seek legislation to follow EU single market rules without necessarily giving MPs a vote on each piece of regulation. This has drawn criticism from the Conservatives and Reform UK.
Ministers are conducting an audit to identify which sectors could benefit most from closer integration, with chemicals, pharmaceuticals and cars seen as priorities. But one senior European diplomat warned that Brussels would not allow the UK to “cherry pick” and would insist on a Swiss-style deal, tying it into annual contributions to EU budgets aimed at reducing disparities across the bloc.
