EU confirms it wants UK to pay into its budget in exchange for closer ties

The UK has not paid into the EU budget since Brexit. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The UK must pay into the EU budget for future participation in the European single market in electricity, it has been confirmed, in what could become a major test for the post-Brexit reset.

Ireland’s Europe minister, Thomas Byrne, said EU member states had decided the UK should make a financial contribution for closer ties: “Ireland wants to see Britain getting the benefit of closer engagement with the European Union.