From: Steve Shaw - PM
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 07:22 PM

The 39 billion is not reparation. It is a sum that we have agreed with the EU we should pay in order to honour our commitments to the project. I'd remind you that a vital element of that project, agreed by all 28 members, is that richer countries should make bigger contributions in order that every EU country can remain solvent and make progress with infrastructure. There are obligations on net recipients to use the money in particular ways in line with EU policy. This has, in spite of many a glitch, helped to maintain a relatively prosperous and peaceful EU, which benefits every one of its members.

I seem to remember that Steve Shaw was previously in favour of settling for the 100 billion euro figure that the EU had plucked out of thin air. This reduced figure of £39 billion was a figure accepted in order that discussions could continue with regard to the UK leaving the EU.
It was always a case, in line with EU rules, that the figure would be part of the overall agreement on us leaving the EU. As we have not come to any further agreement, the £39 billion is still available as a negotiating point.


Although the £39bn appears to have been agreed, the EU rules say that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

I'm sorry to have to repeat this, but for some it seems to be overlooked whenever it suits their purposes.