THE European Union could end up dragging Britain through a bitter court battle in order to force the UK to pay its so-called Brexit bill demands, according to a British academic.
However, Professor Steve Peers, professor of law at the University of Essex and an EU expert, says Britain would end up paying “less” than the €100 billion (£84bn) demanded by Brussels.
Theresa May has “ruled out” paying anything to the EU after Whitehall officials were quoted claiming Britain could be ready to part with £36bn to leave the bloc with a trade agreement.
Her comments come after a report in the Sunday Telegraph said the UK planned to offer £36bn partly in the form of continuing budget contributions during a three-year transitional deal after Brexit.
Other Conservative figures, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Owen Paterson, have laughed off any attempts from the Europe Union to make Britain pay to quit.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Professor Peers hinted there was nothing in Article 50 document to enforce the so-called divorce payment.
He did, however, claimed Brussels could take Britain to court as it tries to ask Britain to pay for its “obligations” to the bloc.
Professor Peers said: “It is correct to say Article 50 doesn’t have detailed rules about how much we have to pay, one way or the other.
“There would still be court cases that might be successful, claiming for things like money for pensions and grants.
“It would be less money than the €40bn, €60bn or €100bn that has been talked about.”
Professor Peer’s comments reinforce those of Mr Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, who furiously insisted there was “no logic” behind the reported offer.
He added: “Legally, we owe nothing.”
John Redwood, MP for Wokingham, told LBC that the idea Britain had to pay to enter into trade talks was “just ridiculous”.
He said: “Ministers would be quite wrong to be talking about any figures.
“We don’t owe them any money.”
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