Britain, Germany and France have agreed that a proposed six per cent increase in the European Union's 2011 budget is unacceptable.
Reports say the increase should be capped at 2.91 per cent, French sources said on Thursday.
"Sarkozy, Cameron and Merkel have agreed that they regard the proposed increase as unacceptable," sources in the French delegation attending a summit in Brussels said, referring to the French, British and German leaders.
"As far as they are concerned, it's clear that the increase should be capped at 2.91 per cent," the sources said, adding that the leaders had met for 20 minutes to discuss the issue.
The 2.91 per cent figure is in line with what the majority of EU member states want, according to the European Council, the body that represents member states.
The European Commission has proposed six per cent.
