HC Deb 20 May 2002 vol 386 cc92-4W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1997,(a) contributions and (b) receipts between each member state and the European Community, and figures relating thereto, as were published in (i) the Official Report, 19 February 1997, columns 573–76W and (ii) those of 17 December 1998, Official Report, columns 757–60W. [56635]

Ruth Kelly

Updated versions of the tables provided on 17 December 1998 are as follows. Information relating to UK gross contributions to, abatement and public sector receipts from the EC Budget from 1996 to 2000, broken down by the various elements asked for on 19 February 1997, in current prices, can be found in Table 3 of the White Paper, European Community Finances (Cm 5173).

Table 1—Net contributions by member states 1997–2000
euro million
Member state 1998 1999 2000
Belgium1 1,427.5 1,275.5 1,457.1
Denmark 192.3 144.6 87.8
Germany 10,465.7 11,359.0 11,708.4
Greece -4,566.3 -3,640.9 -4,145.2
Spain -6,482.6 -6,656.1 -4,315.1
France 1,718.3 1,164.4 2,407.6
Ireland -2,134.8 -1,822.6 -1,524.2
Italy 2,110.6 1,751.7 289.7
Luxembourg1 133.7 114.0 105.4
Netherlands 3,046.6 3,358.0 3,303.1
Austria 822.4 836.0 721.7
Portugal -2,824.4 -2,677.4 -1,934.6
Finland 228.6 310.1 -137.9
Sweden 1,122.5 1,226.9 1,469.1
UK 5,659.0 5,290.0 6,181.2
1 A negative figure indicates the member state is a net recipient. The table above has been compiled from the annual reports of the European Court of Auditors and the European Commission's publication, Allocation of 2000 EU Operating Expenditure by Member State. These reports do not attribute all EC spending between members states and do not provide a full picture of net contributions. In particular, the effects of administration spending are understated. Most EC administration spending is disbursed in Belgium and Luxembourg. The figures for these countries must therefore be treated with considerable caution.

Source:

Court of Auditors Reports and European Commission publication, Allocation of 2000 Operating Expenditure by Member State.

Table 2–Percentage of member states GDP accounted for by the net contribution or receipt
Member state 1998 1999 2000
Belgium* 0.64 0.55 0.59
Denmark 0.12 0.09 0.05
Germany 0.54 0.57 0.58
Greece -4.21 -3.11 -3.41
Spain -1.24 -1.18 -0.71
France 0.13 0.09 0.17
Ireland -2.77 -2.08 -1.48
Italy 0.20 0.16 0.02
Luxembourg* 0.82 0.63 0.51
Netherlands 0.87 0.90 0.82
Austria 0.44 0.42 0.35
Portugal -2.83 -2.50 -1.70
Finland 0.20 0.26 -0.10
Sweden 0.53 0.54 0.60
UK 0.45 0.39 0.40
* See note in Table 1 regarding Belgium and Luxembourg net contribution.

Note:

A negative figure indicates the member state is a net recipient.

Source:

GDP figures taken from European Commission publication:

European Economy No. 72 (2002).

Net contributions as in Table 1.

Table 3—Net contribution per capita by member state
£ sterling
Member state 1998 1999 2000
Belgium* 93.9 82.1 86.6
Denmark 24.4 17.9 10.0
Germany 85.7 91.1 86.9
Greece -291.5 -227.6 -239.6
Spain -110.5 -111.2 -66.6
France 19.1 12.6 24.1
Ireland -386.8 -320.3 -245.3
Italy 24.6 20.0 3.1
Luxembourg* 210.4 173.5 146.3

Table 3—Net contribution per capita by member state
£sterling
Member state 1998 1999 2000
Netherlands 130.2 139.8 126.5
Austria 68.3 68.0 54.2
Portugal -190.2 -176.4 -117.8
Finland 29.8 39.5 -16.2
Sweden 85.1 91.2 100.9
UK 64.1 58.5 63.1
* See note in Table 1 regarding Belgium and Luxembourg net contribution.

Note:

A negative figure indicates the member state is a net recipient.

Source:

Population figures taken from European Commission publication:

European Economy No. 72 (2002).

Conversion to £ sterling using the annual average £/€exchange rate.

Net contributions as in Table 1.