France’s Francois Hollande snubs EU meeting over budget dispute

France’s President Francois Hollande boycotted a Thursday meeting with the prime ministers of Germany and Britain, avoiding what could have been a contentious discussion on the European Union’s budget.

British Prime Minister David Cameron insists on dramatic spending cuts, United Press International reported. Mr. Hollande is arguing otherwise, according to various media.

“The numbers are much too high,” Mr. Cameron said, of the EU’s budget, UPI reported. “They need to come down, and if they don’t come down, there won’t be a deal.”

Mr. Hollande was reportedly so disengaged with the talk of EU budget cuts that he wouldn’t even answer his phone, UPI said.

“Hollande was not even answering his mobile,” a senior EU official said, according to UPI. “The French are playing tough, very tough, more so than in November.”