more of the article...
UK 'pathetic'
The failure of the talks gave way to verbal sparring, as France, Germany and Luxembourg rounded on fellow member states.
French President Jacques Chirac said Britain's behaviour was "pathetic", adding he was shocked by the "arrogance of several rich countries" in the talks.
The UK rejected proposals to limit its annual rebate without a wider reform of the EU's agricultural subsidies.
Chancellor Schroeder said the summit failed because of the "totally unaccepting attitude" of Britain and the Netherlands, while Luxembourg Prime Minister and EU President Jean-Claude Juncker spoke of a "profound crisis" in Europe.
Britain, however, defended itself against the criticism, saying it was not alone in rejecting the proposed deal.
Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, Jack Straw said he was dismayed but optimistic.
"It is in many ways a sad day for Europe. But out of this sad day there is an opportunity to reconnect."
He said Britain would take the responsibility of leading the debate on the EU's future when it assumes the body's rotating presidency next month, although he conceded the task would be difficult.
"This will be seen as something of a turning point for the European Union. Sometimes to secure a turn in democracies, there has to be a shock," he said.
'Cause for shame'
As the talks disintegrated, 10 EU newcomers from Eastern Europe offered to cut their funding to salvage a deal, although their call went unheeded.
Mr Juncker said that only made matters worse.
"When I heard one after the other, all the new member countries, each poorer than the other, say that in the interest of reaching an agreement they would be ready to renounce some of their financial demands, I was ashamed."
But Britain said it has the backing of four or five other EU states in its rejection of the budget.
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the rebate was needed to compensate for the distortions caused by agricultural subsidies, the biggest beneficiary of which is France.
I assume he was ashamed of France for refusing to allow its' agricultural subsidies to be reduced.