EU Threatens to Fine Britain unless It Pays £1.7billion Bill

David Cameron at the EU council headquarters, in Brussels

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jacek Dominik, the EU Budget Commissioner, says Britain was made 'fully aware' of bill before last week's EU summit but raised no objections

Britain will risk its rebate and face significant fines if it refuses to meet a demand from the EU for an extra £1.7billion.

A furious David Cameron said at an EU summit on Friday he would not meet an "appalling" and unprecedented demand for an increase in Britain's contribution by the December 1 deadline.

However, Jacek Dominik, the interim EU Budget Commissioner, said Britain was "fully aware" that it had to meet the payment having been informed a week before the summit on October 17.

He said that Britain will "open a Pandora's box" if it fails to make the payment and put its £3billion-a-year rebate at risk. » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Monday, October 27, 2014