Low expectations on UK bill compromise

EU finance ministers are meeting on Friday (7 November) amid low expectations of clinching a deal that would allow the UK and the Netherlands to pay their outstanding bills to the EU budget in instalments.

The UK has a surcharge of €2bn, while the Netherlands still has to pay €642 million by 1 December. The sums, which are unprecedented, were communicated last month after the countries reported higher gross national incomes. Other member states are getting money back, notably France (€1...