Brussels, 18/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, Germany and France finalised the broad lines of a common position on the problems of free movement of workers from Eastern European countries after membership to the EU, and the EU's future regional policy, a question posed by Spain. Spain makes a link between its agreement to an EU15 common negotiating position on the free movement of persons and the prior obtaining of a sort of political guarantee on aid to its regions after enlargement (see EUROPE of 14/15 May, p.9). "We cannot accept the Spanish request as it stands as it would be anticipating the renegotiation of the EU budget, something which cannot take place before 2006", said Mr Védrine after a meeting with Mr Fischer in Vezelay.