Recommendation 48

It is disappointing that the EU has recently and unilaterally introduced a significant new element into the “reset” negotiations by asking the UK to make a financial contribution to economic development of lower-income EU countries. Such a demand was not included in the Common Understanding. Introducing it in this way risks undermining confidence in the UK that the delicate balance of interests reflected in the Common Understanding is being respected and remains the basis for further negotiations in good faith. (Conclusion, Paragraph 128)