Juncker raps Cameron on EU payments

(ANSA) - Brussels, November 4 - European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker on Tuesday criticised the way UK Prime Minister David Cameron explained to the British public a hefty payment to Brussels.
    The UK has been asked to pony up an additional 2.1 billion euros in EU contributions after Britain's GDP figures were revised upward to reflect proceeds from crime.
    "This is not a British problem but that of the European Union as a whole, and it needs a common answer," Juncker said.
    "The impact on some States was greater than that on the UK". Cameron last week told parliament the UK will not pay two billion euros by December 1 demanded by the European Commission following updated GDP figures. "We will be challenging this in every way possible," he said. Earlier in the year, countries including Italy changed their accounting methods in calculating GDP per new EU measures that said proceeds from criminal activity must be included.
    In Britain, September GDP figures doubled to 5% from earlier calculations of 2.5% GDP growth, explaining its high bill.