Ms Niamh Campbell:

The UK position is that it wants to retain the rebate. The discussions at the European Council have been very much focused on the expenditure side. The Commission's proposal would replace the UK rebate by a lump sum correction. As far as Ireland is concerned, our national position is that we do not like rebates because they are too opaque. The British rebate will be a factor in play. Who knows what will happen next week?