France tells UK To Give Ground

The UK says, "Your turn."

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In an attempt to deflect political pressure away from the Franco-Dutch referendum noes ahead of next week's European summit, the French president said: "The time has come for our English friends to understand that they have to make a gesture of solidarity for Europe."

But Mr Blair emerged from a private meeting with the chancellor, Gordon Brown, convinced not only that Britain should stand firm, but increase the counter-pressure on France and its budget rebate ally, Luxembourg.
The prime minister used a pre-summit meeting at No 10 with the Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, to remind Paris that Britain had been "making a gesture" to France for decades.

Britain's net contribution to EU funds is two-and-a-half times that of its neighbour, he declared.