In quotes: Ministers assail the UK

Different views of UK performance: Jack Straw and Diogo Freitas do Amaral

The UK has been criticised at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels for failing so far to steer the EU towards a solution of its disagreements on future financing.

Some ministers said the UK should already have provided a proposed budget for 2007-13, with figures for specific budget headings.

Others warned of the importance of reaching a deal at the summit in mid-December or vented their feelings on the UK rebate.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy: "The feeling broadly shared on the council (of foreign ministers) is that the British presidency is going to have to face its responsibilities... Almost every country pleaded with the British presidency, not on bended knee, but not far from it: reach a compromise, accept this agreement, we must avoid a crisis."

French Minister for European Affairs Catherine Colonna: "Five months have passed and there is still no proposal likely to shape an agreement. There is not even a proposal setting out figures. Many delegations were surprised by this method of conducting budget negotiations."

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja: "As there is nothing new to discuss, I have got nothing new to say."

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht quoted by diplomats: "We are sitting here wasting our time."

Polish Europe Minister Jaroslaw Pietras: "We have not made progress today, because there were no new elements to discuss."

Spanish Europe Minister Alberto Navarro: "Concerning the British rebate, which is the main problem, there are three member states, France, Italy and Spain, which pay over half of that rebate. So there is a problem of lack of equity there, apart from it being an anti-community instrument, and we must tackle that problem, because without it there will not be a satisfactory agreement in December."

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik urged partners to show flexibility: "I think that we all should be aware of our responsibilities, and be very conscious of this, for the Union as such, for the new member states who need planning, security, for ourselves, so we should do the utmost to reach an agreement."

Portuguese Foreign Minister Diogo Freitas do Amaral, going into the meeting: "They have done nothing about the financial prospects... We are not going to get any numbers today, just words."

Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary: "This is one (meeting, on 7 December) that will be considering figures, proposals with numbers in it... Our colleagues are right to say they haven't had discussions like that before, so we will be offering ideas how the matter can be resolved with figures."

EU official quoted by Press Association: "For the new member states which join the EU last year, enlargement is not complete until they see a new budget designed for 25 member states. But they are concerned that the rebate problem means the issue will not be settled at the December summit."