Brussels, 20/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Ecofin Council and the European Commission were pleased to note the Irish Presidency's programme of work for this term of office, and especially a first exchange of views on the next financial perspectives, foreseen at the informal meeting of Economy and Finance Ministers on 2 and 3 April, in Kildare. The main points of the programme concern:
preparation of the "Key Issues Paper" by the Presidency on the Lisbon Strategy, with a view to the Spring European Council;
examination of the stability and convergence programmes of Member States, in compliance with the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact;
integration of new Member States in the Lisbon strategy and coordination of economic policies (these countries are to report budgetary data before 1 March 2004 and convergence programmes in May 2004);
discussions to be launched on the financial framework after 2006 and also on the future of regional policy. The Presidency plans to establish, in association with the next presidencies, a roadmap on the organisation of work with a view to reaching an agreement on the post-2006 financial framework by end 2005;
implementation of the European growth initiative;
conclusion, by June, of an agreement with third countries on savings tax;
and the continuation of implementation of the action plan on financial services.