Liam Hyland
Ceist:33 Mr. Hyland asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's strategy on the future financial framework of the EU, particularly in relation to structural funding and Ireland. [7463/97]
Written Answers - EU Financial Perspectives.
It is the task of the European Commission to put forward proposals for the multi-annual financial perspectives within which the annual budgets of the European Union are drawn up. The current financial perspectives apply until the end of 1999.
The Commission is currently in the process of drawing up proposals for the financial perspectives which will apply during the years 2000 to 2004. It has been agreed that it will table these proposals following the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference on the revision of the Maastricht Treaty. If the Intergovernmental Conference concludes as planned at the meeting of the European Council in Amsterdam in June, we can expect the proposals to be tabled in July.
The Government has taken, and will continue to take, all appropriate steps to ensure that Ireland's interests are taken into account in the Commission's proposals. To this end we are keeping in close touch with the Commission at both political and official levels. The Taoiseach visited Brussels at the beginning of this month and held meetings with President Santer, Commissioner Wulf-Mathies and other Commissioners. He has given a report of his meetings in reply to questions in this House.
Negotiations on the proposals are likely to extend at least until the end of the year. The Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to go into detail on Ireland's negotiating position at this time. We will, however, be concerned to ensure that the new financial perspectives are adequate. They will have to be sufficient to meet the Union's ongoing needs especially in areas such as cohesion and agriculture which are of particular interest to Ireland, as well as the new demands arising from enlargement.
Despite current levels of GDP, Ireland will continue to have major development needs well into the next decade. The levels of growth which we currently enjoy are relatively recent. We have yet to attain European averages in terms of accumulated wealth, investment, capital formation and infrastructure. Commissioner Wulf-Mathies herself has stated that there should be no sudden shock in the case of Ireland — that the success which has been achieved should not be put at risk by a sudden withdrawal of funding. I am confident, therefore, that Ireland will again secure a substantial measure of structural funding in the next round.