David Cameron to hold 'robust' talks on cutting EU budget - Telegraph.co.uk

Mr Cameron was particularly incensed that the EU was not proposing any cut in its spending on administration. He said: "I want to make a very strong argument on the Commission: how can they argue that countries should be cutting spending and taking tough decision if they are not prepared to take tough decisions themselves?

"One of the things that's so notable about the commission proposal [is] not only are they proposing a completely ludicrous 100bn euros increase in the European budget but they are also not proposing to make any cuts to the central administrative costs. Every other country in Europe has had to take difficult decisions.

"We cut ministers pay, froze it for a Parliament, reduced the size of the civil service, slashed the number of quangos, cut billions out of central budgets. We are not doing that in Britain to see the European Union do nothing similar itself.

"So we will be taking a very tough approach. I look forward to my conversation with Angela. We've always had good, frank, open conversations and I will be making that argument with vigour.

"I will also be making the argument that look, I understand the difficulties of the euro but the European Union budget is for all 27 members of the EU.

"We shouldn't be using the European Union budget to make up for difficulties and problems in the Eurozone.

"If the Eurozone wants to have its own budget it should have its own budget and if they want to have fiscal transfers they can have fiscal transfers. If they want to channel more money to euro members who have difficulties they can channel more money to euro members who have difficulties but they shouldn't be using the European Union budget as a proxy for that.

"So I will be arguing for a very tough outcome. I've never had particularly high hopes for a November agreement because these are always difficult, you've got 27 people around the table, you've got 27 different opinions but I'm very clear that I'm not going to agree to a future financial framework that isn't it Britain's interest."