Ten nations back Cameron's bid to limit rise in EU budget

A statement circulated by the Prime Minister at a summit in Brussels was signed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Austria, Finland, Slovenia and Estonia.

The 11 have enough voting clout to form a “blocking minority” if the rest of the member states try to settle on a higher figure in forthcoming compromise talks with MEPs and the European Commission, both wanting a 5.9 per cent rise.

The initiative came once the Prime Minister realised his call for a spending freeze next year was a non-starter. Following telephone calls to German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday evening, he launched what amounted to a petition in a bid to lock in sufficient allies in a pact against anything more than 2.9 per cent – which in itself would add 435m a year to the UK’s EU budget payments.

The signed statement condemns the “unnaceptable”" attempt to increase the budget.

The issue will not be decided at the summit.