Vol. 572 No. 5
92 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the fact that the Franco-German block intends to use its majority financial contributions to the EU as leverage in the present Intergovernmental Conference negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23679/03]
The negotiations at the Intergovernmental Conference and on the next financial framework, which will apply from 2007, are entirely separate. The European Council at Thessaloniki agreed that the Intergovernmental Conference "should complete its work and agree the Constitutional Treaty as soon as possible and in time for it to become known to European citizens before the June 2004 elections for the European Parliament". The Presidency is seeking to conclude negotiations by the end of this year. Even initial proposals on the financial framework, however, have yet to be tabled and final decisions will not need to be taken for some years.
