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The average British household paid £440 to be a member of the European Union last year but received only £312 back in direct benefits, according to newly published Brussels accounts.

The £128 loss for every household is because Britain’s share of the costs for running the EU are not matched by returned cash, which comes in the form of farm subsidies or social funds.  The lion’s share of spending goes to continental farmers and poorer countries such as Poland, the figures show.

Britain is the fifth highest contributor to the EU budget, with £6.7  billion, beaten by France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Poland contributes £2.4 billion.   Each Briton pays £110 in contributions to the EU but loses out by £32 in benefits in return. Spain is the only one of the top five contributors where the return is greater than the contribution.  In Poland, every person contributes £63 and gains £166 in return subsidies.

Britain has also been hit by a deal negotiated in 2005 by Tony Blair that has seen the value of an annual rebate from the EU, won by Margaret Thatcher in 1984, fall significantly over the past two years. 

More at TTel.