# Britain willing to discuss paying into EU to join electricity market, says minister

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/britain-willing-to-discuss-paying-into-eu-to-join-electricity-market-says-minister/
- Published: 2026-11-10T17:52:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T18:35:46+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/nov/10/britain-eu-electricity-market-cohesion-fund-hamish-falconer
- Topics: Business, Europe, Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- The UK is open to discussing payments for EU electricity market access.
- Britain has not agreed to link access to the cohesion fund.
- Talks also cover defence, student fees and youth mobility.

## Summary

Britain is willing to discuss contributing to EU infrastructure schemes in poorer regions as part of negotiations over access to the European electricity market, minister Hamish Falconer said. The UK has not accepted the EU’s proposed link between electricity access and the cohesion fund, and any agreement could be politically sensitive because British taxpayers’ money might support projects in central and eastern Europe.

Falconer said the issue would be discussed after the expected UK-EU summit, where negotiators also hope to make progress on food and drink, carbon emissions and youth mobility. Talks over UK participation in the EU’s €150bn (£125bn) Safe defence loan scheme collapsed last year after the EU proposed an entry fee of up to €6bn; Falconer said he hopes Britain can join a future version on acceptable terms. He also said the UK is engaging with EU interest in lower tuition fees for EU students, an issue outside the existing negotiating framework.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.