Fund suspension

The Commission has confirmed that it wrote to the UK authorities on 28 November warning that it would suspend structural fund payments unless it receives satisfactory assurances within six weeks that problems concerning inadequate audit controls on paying agencies in England are being addressed. The UK as a whole receives around €2 billion a year from the structural funds budget.

The Finnish presidency of the EU reached a deal with the European Parliament on next year’s budget on 28 November after only one hour of talks.