John Bruton
Ceist:17 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if there will be a meeting of the European Council to discuss the future financing of the Community in the light of the proposals to be made by the Commission in this matter in February.
Written Answers. - Community Financing.
The question of holding such a meeting, in advance of the regular European Council scheduled for next June, is one for the Portuguese Presidency to decide on in the first instance, in accordance with normal practice.
Given the major issues involved, the Commission has still a number of additional meetings planned before finalising its proposals on the EC's financial perspectives for the period 1993-97. According to my information, these proposals are now expected to be agreed by the Commission on 11 February and will then be forwarded, in accordance with normal procedures, to the Council and the European Parliament. I expect that the proposals will be based on the successful outcome of the Maastricht Summit and will cover: financial perspectives 1993-97 and new ceiling on EC own resources; reform of Structural Funds for the next round (1994-98); the establishment and endowment of the Cohesion Fund agreed at Maastricht; the follow-up on the new Treaty Article on trans-European new works in transport, energy, telecommunications, and steps to make the Community revenue system more progressive, to reflect more closely the relative prosperity of member states.