Brussels, 17/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The finance ministers of nine EU states said in Brussels on Tuesday 17 May that the draft budget brought forward by the European Commission for 2012 was too high. The Commission is proposing a 4.9% increase in payment appropriations compared with 2011. The nine critics are the five countries - United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Germany and Finland - which, in December of last year called for a budget freeze until 2020, arguing that all European governments were having to tighten their belts, plus Denmark, Austria, Sweden and Italy. Hungary was also “sceptical” about the proposed increase. France suggested that any increase should be in line with inflation. “We have to agree a lower budget than what is being proposed by the Commission”, Italy said. The rise proposed was “unacceptable” to the UK, which called for cuts in the Commission's administrative expenditure. Some countries, such as Bulgaria and Portugal, felt the draft provided a good basis for discussion. It is the Council Presidency's intention to reach agreement on the Council position at the latest by the Council of European ministers responsible for the budget, at the end of July, before getting down to negotiations with the European Parliament. (L.C./transl.rt)