Politics · United Kingdom · 18 hrs ago
UK may pay into EU development funds in electricity market talks
The UK may contribute to EU development funds as part of talks on access to the bloc’s electricity market.
The funds support poorer EU countries, including Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia, with infrastructure and regional development.
A leaked draft says payments could be required for British energy companies to trade freely in the EU electricity market.
The funds have also faced fraud concerns: the EU anti-fraud office opened 11 investigations into the cohesion fund last year.
One investigation involved alleged fraud and forged documents in Romanian water and wastewater projects linked to more than €100 million in EU funding.
The UK government says it has not agreed to pay into the funds, and negotiations on electricity market access are not expected to conclude before the EU-UK summit later this month.
The UK may contribute to EU development funds as part of talks on access to the bloc’s electricity market.
A leaked draft EU-UK statement reportedly says the EU is demanding a British contribution for UK energy companies to trade freely in the market.
The UK government said it had not agreed to pay into the funds and that negotiations would not conclude before the EU-UK summit later this month.
The Daily Mail reported that EU anti-fraud investigators opened 11 investigations into the cohesion fund last year.
One investigation concerned alleged fraud and forgery in documents for EU-funded water and wastewater projects in Romania.
- Who
- The UK government and the European Union are negotiating. UK energy companies could benefit from access to the EU electricity market.
- What
- The UK may contribute to EU development funds as part of a deal on electricity market access. The government said it had not agreed to pay.
- When
- The articles were published on 8 November 2026. Negotiations were expected to continue until the EU-UK summit later that month.
- Where
- The negotiations concern the UK and the EU. The cited alleged fraud involved projects in Romania.
- Why
- The EU is reportedly seeking a UK contribution to development funds in exchange for allowing British energy companies to trade freely in the EU electricity market.
European Union
UK government
Contribution to development funds
European Union
The leaked draft statement reportedly says the EU is demanding a British contribution as a condition of electricity market access.
UK government
The government said the UK had not agreed to pay into the funds.
Olaf opened 11 investigations into the cohesion fund, according to the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail reported that the UK had not agreed to contribute to EU development funds and that negotiations were ongoing.
The EU-UK summit was expected to take place, before which negotiations on electricity market access were not expected to conclude.
- Olaf investigations
- 11 into the cohesion fund last year
- Romania project funding
- More than €100 million (£83 million)
- Funds named
- EU cohesion fund and other development funds
- Expected summit
- Later in November 2026
1 source
What people are saying
Once again Burnham is planning to throw away taxpayer cash to the EU with no reward whatsoever. This is a betrayal of the British people.
We do not comment on leaks or provide a running commentary on live negotiations.