UK Ready to Pay Up to 40B Euros to Leave EU, Newspaper Reports

LONDON — 

Britain is ready to pay up to 40 billion euros ($47 billion) as part of a deal to leave the European Union, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported late Saturday, citing three unnamed government sources.

The newspaper said Britain was prepared to pay the sum only as part of a wider deal that included a trade agreement with the EU.

“We know [the EU’s] position is 60 billion euros, but the actual bottom line is 50 billion euros. Ours is closer to 30 billion euros, but the actual landing zone is 40 billion euros, even if the public and politicians are not all there yet,” the newspaper quoted “a senior Whitehall source” as saying.

The British government ministry in charge of EU negotiations declined to comment on the report. Britain has previously said it will pay any outstanding liabilities, but has not given a figure.