FRANCE has demanded Britain gives Paris “our money back” as the country’s government warned the UK must settle a Brexit bill before trade talks can begin.
Bruno Le Maire, the French economy minister, said it was time the UK pays up as the battle over how much Britain should pay to leave the bloc continues.
He referenced Margaret Thatcher, who successfully reduced Britain’s payments to the European Economy Community in 1980 by saying: “I want my money back.”
Mr Le Maire, said: “We, Europeans, say to the British: ‘We want our money back’.”
He accused Britain of trying to shirk its EU budget responsibilities.
He added: “It's as if you went to a restaurant, ordered a meal, began eating and then walked out in the middle of the meal, saying: 'I'm not going to pay after all'.
“That's not possible.”Mr Le Maire’s intervention is just the latest from a growing number of politicians from Brussels and other member countries demanding Britain pays a large divorce bill.
The EU has said the Brexit bill is between £45billion and £75billion but refuses to commit to a figure.
Mr Le Maire agreed with EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who yesterday said not enough progress had been made in Brexit talks.
The Frenchman, added: “Let's find an agreement on the financial settlement, even if it's not down to the exact euro, and then we can launch the next stages.”
Last month Theresa May announced Britain “will honour commitments” made during its EU membership and pay £18billion to the EU during a two-year transition period up until 2020.
However, the EU rejected the figure, saying that will not cover the cost of Britain leaving.
Ales Chmelar, the Czech secretary for European affairs, warned the final divorce settlement will be far higher.
He said: “This is just a payment for the remaining financial framework period.
"This is not a payment for all legacies that we see, including for example the pensions and the legacies in terms of grants and funds.”
Brussels negotiators have said they want absolute certainty about which commitments the UK is prepared to honour in order to arrive at a “methodology" to calculate a final bill.
French President Emmanuel Macron previously intervened in the discussion, saying Mrs May’s offer had not fundamentally changed the EU’s demands.
Mr Macron, said: “Before we move forward, we wish to clarify the issue of the regulation of European citizens, the financial terms of the edit and the question of Ireland.
“If those three points are not clarified then we cannot move forward with the rest.”