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.
The EU surcharge - which would add almost a fifth to the UK's annual contribution of £8.6 billion - is intended to reflect Britain's better-than-expected economic performance relative to other EU states.
It results from an EU recalculation of national incomes dating back to 1995 and taking into account recent changes in the rules to include economic activities such as prostitution and illegal drugs.
It is understood that British officials did not learn about the demand until last week.
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.