David Stanton
Question:14 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the Government's position on the negotiation of the next EU budget. [27940/98]
Vol. 498 No. 6
14 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the Government's position on the negotiation of the next EU budget. [27940/98]
The European Commission has tabled proposals for a new financial perspective to cover the period 2000-2006. The financial perspective sets out the maximum amount which may be spent on any category of expenditure in a given year. Negotiations are on-going within Council, but it is fair to say that the perspective will only be agreed as part of the overall Agenda 2000 package — including such issues as agriculture and Structural Funding as well as enlargement financing, at the European Council in March 1999.