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European Council: 15–16 December 2005

My Lords, to those who argue that we have given up our rebate without getting anything in return—and we have heard quite a lot of that over the past few days—is the answer not that it is only right that the United Kingdom should pay its fair share of enlargement, a goal supported by all parties in Parliament? Is it not the case that we will retain the UK rebate, as my noble friend said, and do so in relation to the CAP and the expenditure of the existing 15 countries, and that it will continue to rise throughout the period? Is it also not right that, for the first time, France and the UK will be broadly making the same net contribution to the budget? Finally, let us not forget that, in contrast to the Luxembourg package, we shall be able to raise the issue and argue the case for reform of the CAP and for a modern budget system in 2008, rather than in 2013–14?