EU chief Juncker tells Cameron he is 'not frightened' to face him down over £1.7billion budget demand

• Jean-Claude Juncker risks controversy by ridiculing UK failures in Brussels
• Commission president said Cameron had 'a problem' with other EU leaders
• He said he was 'not the type who trembles in front of prime ministers'
• The PM faces a battle against EU leaders to cut UK contribution demands
• The EU Commission has demanded an extra £1.7billion by December 1

EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker has ridiculed David Cameron’s failures in Brussels – and declared he was ‘not frightened’ of facing him down.

The Commission president said he was ‘not the type who trembles in front of prime ministers’ and warned Mr Cameron that he had ‘a problem’ with other EU leaders.

Mr Juncker’s remarks come as Mr Cameron battles to reduce the £1.7billion surcharge demanded by the EU to cover years of strong economic growth in the UK while Europe struggled.

 

Jean-Claude Juncker today suggested that David Cameron had an uphill battle to win over the other EU leaders in his battle to cut Britain’s contributions

The Prime Minister was stung last month after the budget demand was leaked during a Brussels summit.

Mr Cameron has vowed not to pay ‘anything like’ the £1.7billion being demanded by Brussels by December 1.

He was slapped down by Angela Merkel at the summit two weeks ago when she told him that he had no choice but to pay the bill.

Mr Juncker today suggested that the Prime Minister had an uphill battle to win over the other EU leaders in the battle to cut Britain’s contributions.