Do you remember the debacle last December when Blair traded the rebate for a budget? The horsetrading continues, as our parasites in Parliament are not satisfied at such fudge. All must have candies, no less than they decree...
Reimer Böge, the MEP leading the parliament's negotiations, said that extra money was needed for cultural and educational programmes, consumer protection measures and assistance for candidate countries. Parliamentarians also want greater powers to reallocate funds between different programmes.
While MEPs privately concede they are unlikely to gain much extra money, they hope to secure greater powers in future budget negotiations and influence the way funds are spent.
Is it for the good of the taxpayer? Of course not, it is designed to flush more cash their way for the 'good of the EU' (re "themselves", their kin, their dentists, etc etc). No hope for our rebate anyway...