Brussels, 30/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Polish Presidency and the European Commission are organising a conference on 20-21 October on the EU's financial perspectives (budget) for 2014-2020, announced President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso and the head of the Polish Presidency, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as they emerged from a meeting. Tusk said that the debate about the next budget would be tough because of opposition from the United Kingdom, a country that has traditionally been sceptical about the European project, but he said that the initial discussions at a meeting last month of European affairs ministers in Sopot had been positive (see EUROPE 10430). The Polish prime minister said he was cautiously optimistic about forthcoming proposals on funding for the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy. Barroso said a clear message had to be sent that the EU budget can help build growth, and was pleased at the fact that the overwhelming majority of countries had welcomed the Commission's proposals. (M.B./transl.fl)