Brussels, 16/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - During the Commission seminar on the future of the European Union, on 20 September, discussions will focus on the financial perspectives 2007-2013 and on the need to reach an agreement as soon as possible on this dossier (which has been blocked since the failure of the European Council in June), a Commission spokesperson said on Friday. “Given how urgent it is to rapidly find a compromise on the budget, the Commissioners will also examine the dossier” during their seminar next week, she said. The Commission should then urge for the problem of the budget to be on the agenda of the informal summit convened by the British Presidency on 27 and 28 October at Hampton Court Palace, near London (EUROPE 9027). The spokesperson went on to say: “Of course, we shall work to ensure that the Heads of State and Government of the Union discuss the matter during the informal summit”. At this stage, the British EU Council Presidency does not envisage discussing either the budget, or the future of the European Constitution, at the summit. The ten new member nations, which would be the main losers if there was any delay in the programming of regional funds for the period 2007-2013, are urging for the financial perspectives to be tackled at Hampton Court Palace. Last week, the four Visegrad countries (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) had already warned against the adverse effects of any delay in adopting the financial perspectives. “The lack of a medium term financial framework poses serious risks for implementation of the convergence programmes in the new Member States”, they said on the fringe of the informal Ecofin Council in Manchester. In their view, the last proposal by the Luxembourg Presidency is “a good base for the continuation of discussions”. The British Presidency is not contemplating submitting new proposals on the budget until November.