28/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - During a seminar in Brussels on 27 January, between Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the regions on the subject "What cohesion for the future", Commissioner Michel Barnier "anticipated that the proposal to be presented by the Commission on 10 February (on the financial perspectives) will exceed 1% of Gross Domestic Product", counter to a request by six Member States, who think this should be the maximum level. Democratici de sinistra MEP Gianni Pittella wrote a press release to this effect, which also underlines the consensus reached during the meeting on "several delicate issues" related to co-decision, including: no contradiction between the Lisbon strategy and the cohesion policy (which "will target research and employment more"), Objective 1a for the regions leaving Objective 1 by statistical effect alone, reduction of number of funds, new dimension for Urban initiative.