GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/enlargement

Verheugen defends his financial and budget plans: "Total expenditure for enlargement would, in the end, be even higher than the EUR 40 billion which the Commission proposed by taking the 2004-2006 reference period" - The Nice Treaty coming into force remains necessary precondition to conclusion of enlargement negotiations

Brussels, 21/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen has appealed to the Member States to agree to the Commission's recent proposals for the funding of enlargement in their common negotiating positions, wanting them to see the proposals for the agricultural, regional and budget chapters as balanced, realistic and even financially beneficial for the EU. Cutting the EUR 40 billion overall package proposed by the Commission for 2004-2006 (as demanded by most net...