26/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Commission defends 5.8% rise in EEAS budget next year. The United Kingdom is opposed to a budget increase for the European External Action Service (EEAS), but the Commission is sticking to its guns. A spokesman said on Thursday 26 May that the EEAS had to be increased by 5.8% next year. The first 2011 budget was “too low to meet our obligations”, he added, explaining that, if only to pay for personnel costs, a 3.7% rise was needed. Certain expenditure was...