00:00Five EU countries are urging Britain to contribute to the bloc's regional development fund in return
00:05for access to the EU's internal electricity market. In a letter to Commission President
00:10Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, the leaders of Belgium, Germany,
00:16Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands said a financial contribution should be part of any deal.
00:22The issue is expected to feature at the EU-UK summit on November 20.
00:28A draft joint statement suggests EU leaders broadly support the idea, although the text could still change.
00:34Britain says no contribution has been agreed at this stage.
00:38Energy Minister Martin Maklaski said any payment would have to offer value for money.
00:43Norway offers one possible model, contributing around 391 million euros a year to grants supporting
00:50less prosperous European regions. The five countries say closer electricity ties would improve energy
00:56security, make cross-border trading easier and give businesses more certainty.
01:01They also point to plans for up to 100 gigawatts of joint North Sea projects
01:06within a wider ambition for 300 gigawatts of offshore wind power.
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01:161.5 million
