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Boris Johnson was issued with the colossal bill from the European Commission last night as Britain celebrated finally leaving the EU. Brussels claimed the UK owes a further £1.09billion because of its increase in Gross National Income and VAT contributions, according to the Daily Telegraph. News of the latest bill sparked outrage, fuelling arguments Britain is effectively being punished for the strength of its economy.

It added more weight to Brexiteers’ argument that Britain is right to leave the EU, with one source claiming it was time the UK was in control of its “own money”. Every year the EU recalculates contributions from its member states based on its Gross National Income and the size of the VAT base. Britain paid Brussels almost £9billion in contributions to the EU’s budget for 2019-20. Now with the boost of the UK’s economy, Britain could have pay up to £10billion for what could be one of the last instalments to the EU.

Boris Johnson was handed a new Brexit bill by the the EU commission

The bill was delivered last night as Britain celebrated Brexit

However, there is a chance Britain could get a rebate on this payments. The amount for the rebate is revised according to EU economic data and sources claim the £1.09billion fee may be slashed in half once revisions take effect. In 2018, the budget rebate was worth about £4billion, cutting the £13billion final bill down to £9billion. A UK Government source said: “This bill will come down in negotiations. But the point is that we need to be in control of our own money. That’s why we’re leaving.” JUST IN: We’ll be a truly United Kingdom, vows Boris as the UK leaves the EU

Britain could get a rebate on its EU budget payments

The bill emerged on the last day of the EU’s goodbye to Great Britain. Mr Johnson acknowledged there could be “bumps in the road” as the UK moves into a new era. He claimed there was still uncertainty surrounding a future relationship between Britain and its neighbours. French President Emmanuel Macron underlined the difficulties that could emerge from trade talks. DONT MISS Emmanuel Macron makes parting vicious attack on Brexit [LATEST]

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Ursula von der Leyen said a new chapter was opened

Emmanuel Macron highlighted challenges that could emerge from trade talks

He told The Times: “It is in our common interest to define as close and deep a partnership as possible in defence and security, and in police, judicial, environmental, scientific and cultural co-operation. “At the same time let me be honest, as I have always been: ease of access to the European market will depend on the degree to which the European Union’s rules are accepted, because we cannot allow any harmful competition to develop between us.” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: “We open another chapter. It is a story of old friends and new beginnings.”

Brexit timeline

Despite her sentimentality, presidents of the EU’s institutions gave a stark warning to Britain at a joint Brexit Day conference. Ms von der Leyen said: “Strength does not lie in splendid isolation, but in our unique Union.” She claimed the EU was “way more stronger than any single country”.

Charles Michel and other leaders claimed Brexit has forged a new unity among EU members

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