Brexit: UK divorce bill offer worth up to 50bn euros

[steve2470]

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-42161346

The UK has offered a larger potential "divorce bill" to the EU - which could be worth up to 50bn euros (£44bn), the BBC understands.

There has been no final agreement on a number but the offer was given a "broad welcome" by Brussels, BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said.

No 10 has played down reports the final figure could be up to 55bn euros (£49bn).

The offer was communicated to Brussels after last week's cabinet meeting.

[nitpicker]

1. From DW

http://www.dw.com/en/brexit-eu-and-uk-close-to-financial-agreement/a-41573941

Brexit: EU and UK 'close to financial agreement'

(snip)
The BBC, the Financial Times, the Guardian and several other British newspapers and media outlets are reporting that following a UK government cabinet meeting last week, the British significantly upped their offer to Brussels, coming much closer than they previously had to the EU's estimate of the UK's financial obligations. According to several EU diplomats and officials, intense negotiations have led to the UK broadly agreeing to the terms of a financial settlement that could see the country paying a net amount of at least €50 billion ($59 billion) over a period of several years after it leaves the EU in March 2019.
(snip)

While nothing official has been announced, the reports suggest the two sides are close enough on the issue for the EU to deem "sufficient progress" has been made on it when a crucial meeting takes place between British prime minister Theresa May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday, December 4.
(snip)

The so-called 'divorce bill' relates to a series of liabilities the UK has it relation to its 44-year membership of the EU. Membership of the bloc means member states are committed to paying a share of various EU liabilities — thought to be around €745 billion — that relate to various costs ranging from the EU budget to pensions and loan repayments.

Both the EU and the UK government have declined to comment in any significant detail so far. However, the reports have raised hopes that the UK is edging closer to moving onto the next stage of talks, which will deal with trade and the UK's future relationship with the EU.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Why don't we cancel Brexit and spend the money on the NHS instead?