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https://www.ft.com/content/2be694a4-cab6-4907-aa27-8c5d5169277b?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Britain is to hold new talks with Brussels about joining a multibillion-euro EU defence fund, as both sides seek to deepen military and economic co-operation after this week’s near-breakdown of transatlantic relations with the US. British ministers will hold talks with their EU counterparts in London on February 2, with an aim to make speedy progress on a range of areas ahead of a summit between the two sides, provisionally slated for May. Officials in London and Brussels told the FT that talks about Britain joining a future round of the Security Action for Europe fund would be discussed, as national capitals seek to boost defence spending. A UK bid to join the original €140bn Safe fund broke down in November after Britain refused to pay billions of euros in fees, but there are hopes that the rift can be repaired. “We are open to discussions about taking part in any second round of loans,” a UK official said. Another official added: “It would obviously need the EU to change its position. We were talking about a fee of hundreds of millions — they wanted billions.” However Britain’s exclusion from the fund caused concern across Europe, with countries including Germany and Italy saying it would send the wrong message to Russia as it continued to wage war in Ukraine.
https://www.ft.com/content/2be694a4-cab6-4907-aa27-8c5d5169277b?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Britain is to hold new talks with Brussels about joining a multibillion-euro EU defence fund, as both sides seek to deepen military and economic co-operation after this week’s near-breakdown of transatlantic relations with the US. British ministers will hold talks with their EU counterparts in London on February 2, with an aim to make speedy progress on a range of areas ahead of a summit between the two sides, provisionally slated for May. Officials in London and Brussels told the FT that talks about Britain joining a future round of the Security Action for Europe fund would be discussed, as national capitals seek to boost defence spending. A UK bid to join the original €140bn Safe fund broke down in November after Britain refused to pay billions of euros in fees, but there are hopes that the rift can be repaired. “We are open to discussions about taking part in any second round of loans,” a UK official said. Another official added: “It would obviously need the EU to change its position. We were talking about a fee of hundreds of millions — they wanted billions.” However Britain’s exclusion from the fund caused concern across Europe, with countries including Germany and Italy saying it would send the wrong message to Russia as it continued to wage war in Ukraine.