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European Council

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman’s point is right. It is important to emphasise that, for the last financial perspective, it was agreed at an equivalent time to March 2006. In other words, the fact that we have not reached an agreement now, in June 2005, does not mean that we cannot reach an agreement before the financial perspective comes into effect. The hon. Gentleman’s description of the impact of not achieving a financial perspective is inaccurate. If we do not reach a proper financial perspective, the accession countries will have the real problem, which is why I am keen to resolve the situation.