Vol. 457 No. 3
24 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance the discussions, if any, he has had with the President of the EU Commission on extending the Delors Package beyond 1999; and the implications of enlargement in relation to the package. [1741/95]
There have been no discussion with the President of the European Commission, or with any other Commissioners, on the question of financing the Union's budget after 1999. Such discussions, when they take place, would extend to all areas of the budget, not just to Structural Funds, and in the first place, would be based on a set of Commission proposals for a new budgetary framework. However, the Government is considering all aspects of future financing with a view to influencing Commission thinking in the matter. Going on previous experience, I would not envisage the next round of negotiations commencing before 1998.
In regard to enlargement, the European Council in Essen last December requested the Commission to submit, as quickly as possible, a detailed analysis of the effects of enlargement in the context of the Union's current policies and their future development. This analysis is awaited.
