Written question asked by Lord Brady of Altrincham (Conservative) on Wednesday, 19 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 21 October 2005. It was answered by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 October 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

EU Finance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Ministers from EU member states and (b) European Commissioners (i) he and (ii) Ministers in his Department have met during the course of the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union to discuss the European Union's next financial perspective and the future of the UK's abatement; what discussions (A) he and (B) Ministers in his Department have held with each; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: We have discussed the financial perspectives, at ministerial and/or official level with each and every EU member state, the two accession states, Bulgaria and Romania, the European Commission and the European Parliament. We have made clear in all of these contacts that, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister wrote to his fellow EU Heads of Government on 20 October, we believe that agreement can and should be reached at the December Council. Our position on the abatement remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister before the House on 20 June 2005, Official Report, columns 523–25.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 21193; 438 c470W;438 c468W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: European Council
Monday, 20 June 2005
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: EU action EU budget