princessnijireiki:

Eleven EU countries are prepared to offer an outright apology for slavery, led by Belgium, which currently holds the presidency of the EU and is conducting the official negotiations with the African bloc.

But four others – Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal – are prepared only to express “regret” about the slave trade, without any specific recognition of responsibility.

[…] EU delegates agree that they are not prepared to call slavery a crime against humanity, because it could have legal implications and force them to pay reparations. Britain says that even an apology could have damaging consequences.

…show of hands, who’s surprised?

Britain blocks EU apology for slave trade