Britain Open to Talks on EU Infrastructure Payments in Return for Electricity Access

Britain is willing to discuss paying towards infrastructure schemes in poorer parts of the European Union in return for access to the EU's electricity market, the minister in charge of EU talks, Hamish Falconer, told The Guardian.

The payments would go into what is known as the EU's cohesion fund, which pays for projects in the bloc's less wealthy regions. Falconer said the UK government has not accepted the principle of linking electricity market access to those payments. He said Britain will discuss additional contributions after this month's summit between the EU and the UK.

Five European leaders welcomed the UK's wish to join the European electricity market, but said Britain would have to pay into the cohesion fund to do so.

The talks come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he wants a much closer relationship with the EU, and has raised the possibility of Britain rejoining as a full member. Negotiators hope the 20 November summit will produce agreements on food and drink, carbon emissions and youth mobility. Falconer said he hopes a youth mobility scheme can be agreed in time for the meeting.

Defence is a separate thread. Talks for the UK to join the EU's €150bn (£125bn) defence fund collapsed last year after a dispute over the UK's contribution. The EU's Security Action for Europe, known as Safe, is a low-interest loan scheme that forms part of the bloc's push to grow defence spending by €800bn. EU officials have suggested an entry fee of up to €6bn for the UK to join Safe. Falconer said the UK is keen to join a future EU defence fund, Safe2, on reasonable terms.