EU extravagance must be curbed Those in power usually look after their own interests better than anyone else's. The EU is a perfect instance of this universal law: its officials are building themselves a gleaming new office block, complete with gym, restaurants and "majestic entry portal," at a cost of £350 million: precisely the amount that Britain's contribution to the EU will have to increase by next year. Britain opposed this payment, but was unable to gather enough EU allies to block it. This sum represents a 2.8 per cent rise in Britain's contribution to EU funds. The European Commission wanted an increase of more than twice that amount. And this at a time when every national budget is being squeezed, and when bureaucrats working for governments other than the EU are facing reductions in pay, and even the sack. David Cameron now has to negotiate the broad framework of the EU budget for the years between 2014 and 2020. He should press for a reduction in EU spending, and use his power of veto if necessary. He must not follow the example of Tony Blair, who in the 2005 budget negotiations agreed to give up a portion of Britain's EU rebate in exchange for renegotiation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In the event, Britain's contribution increased by billions of pounds, but the CAP remained largely unreformed. The next five years are going to raise fundamental questions about Britain's relationship with the EU. The members of the euro will have to unify their fiscal policies, giving up some of their ability to tax their citizens and spend state funds as their electorates see fit. Britain should never participate in that exercise. Mr Cameron must remember that when he considers what Britain's future contribution to the EU should be.