Britain will be paying into EU coffers until 2064, $52B owed

LONDON — Britain could be paying into the European Union’s coffers for nearly another half-century even though Brexit day is little more than a year away, according to independent forecasts compiled for the government.

The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that Britain’s Brexit divorce bill would amount to 37.1 billion pounds ($52 billion US), in the middle of most projections. Most of that sum is due in the next couple of years as Britain honours short-term budget commitments it had already made to the EU.

But payments will continue until 2064 to meet liabilities such as pensions that Britain has incurred through its 45-year membership of the bloc.

“These liabilities will fall due over a very long period, so there is clearly uncertainty over how and when this or future governments would decide to meet the estimated cost,” the OBR said.

In December, the British government and the EU made some progress on Brexit issues, including citizens’ rights, the border between EU member Ireland and Britain’s Northern Ireland and the divorce bill.

The talks have now been broadened to include future relations, notably trade.