Date of release : 23-05-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

At the press conference that followed the 23 May 2005 meeting in Brussels of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, issued the following statement on the 2007-2013 financial perspectives:

"The Presidency had prepared an enhanced version of the "negotiating box" for the 22 May Conclave. At the forthcoming 13 June 2005 "General Affairs" Council, this negotiating box will be even more complete, more precise, and we hope that it will work.

Our common objective is to reach an agreement on the financial perspectives in June 2005. This objective has required the Presidency to make balanced proposals for the entire package. Each participant said, and it was one of the few points of agreement, that under the Luxembourg Presidency, we should be able to reach this agreement. We must arbitrate, taking into account each country’s own interests, but also the European Union’s interests, in order to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.

Thus, it was essential to indicate at this stage of our work, in the form of narrow ranges, the order of magnitude of spending by item that the Presidency considers reasonable.

Furthermore, we must begin to talk seriously about the own resources. This part is an essential component of any agreement. Convinced that the discussion of the subject must no longer be delayed, the Presidency presented a draft proposal on this issue.

It seems to me that the delegations understood and appreciated this complete approach, and it is in fact the only way to arrive at a conclusion.

With regard to the details, all the delegations – some more than others – stated that they were still very dissatisfied with the Presidency’s compromise proposals. But nothing could be more natural at this stage of the negotiations.

In general, the Presidency comes out encouraged by this exchange of views, which helped the delegations improve mutual understanding thanks to very candid interventions. I also perceived a general desire to conclude the dossier at the next European Council meeting. And so we will continue along the same lines with bilateral meetings at the highest level and will organize a new Conclave for 12 June 2005 to do the best possible job to prepare for the European Council of 16 and 17 June and to complete this important work."