Brussels, 13/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - EU Foreign Ministers' first debate on the Financial Perspectives for 2007-2013 this Monday was rather general, but the Dutch Presidency's approach to discussion of the EU's next multi-annual budget was welcomed. The Dutch Presidency has decided to take a building block approach - rather than focussing on the overall budget (1% of EU GDP, as demanded by net contributors, or 1.26% as suggested by the Commission), the Dutch Presidency wants to look at each policy on its own merits, considering its value added and, where necessary, a need to revise the allocated budget. Bernard Bot, acting President of the Council, said it was clear that the exchange of views on Monday had shown that Member States accepted the building block approach as a good way of working. Several delegations (Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece), however, stressed that the Commission's role has to be respected in this important decision-making process, noting that the Commission's proposals should not be seen as 'one suggestion among many' but as the legal basis of the future decision by the EU25. Other delegations warned against excess fragmentation of the debate, with the risk of not seeing the wood for the trees. Germany said that even if the value added of an individual policy is established, this did not necessarily mean it should have a greater budget. France noted that the future budget should not challenge vital EU policies (among which Michel Barnier included the Regional and Cohesion Policy). Michel Barnier called for collective consideration to be given to the issue of abusive company relocations to new Member States. Several of the new Member States (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia) called for greater budget resources for monitoring the EU's external borders. The budget debate will be resumed at the November General Affairs Council.