Brussels, 02/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - The Luxembourg Presidency has defined a calendar for negotiations of the EU Member States for the next financial:
May: l4 May, discussions at the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the EU (Coreper) on section 1 b on “cohesion for growth and jobs” (cohesion policy); - le 12 May, Coreper meeting on other sections, namely “ competitiveness for growth and jobs” (section 1a and part of Lisbon strategy objectives), “conservation and management of natural resources” (section 2 for agriculture, rural development, fisheries and environment), “citizenship, freedom, security and justice” (section 3, with action linked to freedom, security and justice as well as culture, youth, health and consumer protection), “European Union as a world actor” (section 4 on external actions and policies of the EU) and “administrative spending” (section 5); - 13 May, ministers of the Economy and Finance of the EU will discuss this at their dinner at de Senningen Castle, in a backdrop to their informal meeting in Luxembourg; - debate at Coreper on own resources, 18 May; - on the eve of the European Affairs Council, conclave for EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, Sunday 22 May in Luxembourg, with a new version of the presidency's negotiation document; - continued discussions at Coreper, 25 and 31 May.
June: the dossier for the financial perspectives 2007-2013 is expected to be tackled at the Ecofin Council on 7 June in Luxembourg, then examined the following day at an EU Member State Ambassadorial level; - new conclave of Foreign Affairs Ministers, Sunday 12 June, a day before the General Affairs Council (13); meeting of the European Council on16 - 17 June in Brussels.
The European Parliament, will reach a position on this dossier during the plenary session in June (6 -9), by examining and voting on the report by Reimer Böge (CDU). Before this the EP Temporary Committee, for the next financial perspectives is expected to adopt, on 10 May, Mr Böge's draft report (EUROPE 8938).