Brussels, 26/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, several MEPs noted a certain frustration felt by Jean-Claude Juncker after the General Affairs Council's examination the day before of the compromise by the Luxembourg Presidency on the financial perspectives for 2007-2013 (EUROPOE 8935). Briefly presenting the result of this discussion, the European Council president recalled that all delegations, or almost all, refused the first broad lines sketched out by the Presidency, sticking to their positions. Speaking before the temporary committee of the European Parliament on the political challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged EU for 2007-2013, Mr Juncker stressed that things should start moving on the side of the austerity States. Those who believe that the Council will agree with the amounts proposed by the Commission are greatly mistaken, the Luxembourg Prime Minister said, saying that those who hope to limit the budget to 1% are incapable of evolving towards other positions - and it is obvious that this will bring failure. He warned that “the final agreement cannot reflect all the positions”, and said he expected the European Council in June would bring some good night-time experiences. During the conclave on 22 May, the foreign ministers - unaccompanied, alone - should discuss all issues in order to bring matters out of deadlock, not only when it comes to the financial framework for 2007-2013 but also on the subject of own resources, he said.
Juncker said that he was quite tempted by the proposal by Alain Lamassoure (France, EPP-ED) to arrange, in the event of the negotiations failing, an Interparliamentary Conference on EU finance. Juncker said that this conference would reflect the spending and resources sections as they needed sufficient money for the Europe they wanted. It is at the level of action where the Council has to show that it is serious. He pointed out that they could not go back on the decisions made in the past and that “A had to agree with B”. the lack of rationality at the Council was criticised by Catherine Guy-Quint, France, who called on Member States to look at how the Lisbon strategy was being implemented. Anne Elizabeth Jensen (ALDE)aid that with 1%, the goals would be in vain. Kathalijen Buitenweg (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) said that they also needed a good discussion on own resources. German Social Democrat Ralf Walter had a different view and complained about the unbalanced way charges between rich and poor Member States were distributed. The Austrian non-attached, Hans-Peter Martin asked for a “plan B” in the event of failure. Juncker supported the proposal by rapporteur Reimer Böge (EPP-ED, Germany), which intends to organise a trialogue between the three institutions (Council, Commission, Parliament), following the vote at parliament's plenary at the beginning of June and before the European Council on 16-17 June. Juncker said they had to choose the date ell and indicated that during this period he would be meeting four prime ministers a day, beginning with the Chancellor Schröder. Tony Blair, one of his visitors remains opposed to getting rid of the British rebate, which Juncker does not see disappearing overnight. He said that the British cheque was a real problem but they had to know when the conditions that led to its introduction were right today.