Britain will not pay "anything like" the £1.7 billion which is being demanded by the European Commission in additional contributions to the EU budget, Prime Minister David Cameron has told MPs.
But the Prime Minister was accused of being "asleep at the wheel" by Labour leader Ed Miliband, who said Mr Cameron should have been aware for at least two years that changes to Britain's contribution to the EU budget were in the offing.
Asked by ITV News Europe Editor James Mates if Britain would pay the suprise £1.7bn EU surcharge now or later, David Cameron said it was "not happening".
"I want to see proper meetings take place, emergency talks to happen," he said.
"Two billion euros - that is bigger than a lot of countries' gross contributions.
"It is not not an acceptable way to run this organisation."
Today's trip to Berlin should be a moment to savour for the Chancellor, but it is the £1.7 billion EU bill that is on everyone's minds.
George Osborne has told ITV News it is "not acceptable" for the EU to spring a £1.7 billion bill on Britain without any warning.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage has told ITV's The Agenda Britain should tell the European Union to "get stuffed" over the £1.7 billion bill.