Brussels, 25/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - At a press conference in London on Tuesday broadcast live in Brussels, a spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister, head of the European Council, Tony Blair said that in his avidly awaited speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, Tony Blair would be reporting back to the European Parliament on what the British Presidency has undertaken since June to make progress on the Financial Perspectives, and what it is planning to do in the next two months to strike agreement on the Financial Perspectives at the December European Council. In a speech to the EP in June, Blair presented his 'positive vision of Europe' and over the next two months, the British Presidency's target would be to turn this vision into reality, said spokesperson Tom Kelly, with agreement on the Financial Perspectives 2007-2013. But he said Tony Blair would not yet be outlining his ideas on the next steps to resolve the budget issue (neither at the European Parliament on Wednesday nor at the Hampton Court Summit on Thursday).
The British Presidency's aim at Hampton Court is to reach overall strategic consensus on the direction Europe should take in terms of globalisation. With such a strategic consensus, it should be possible to strike agreement on the Financial Perspectives by December, said Kelly. He said the logical order of things should not be overturned, the cart should not be placed before the horse, adding that there was not point going into detail before deciding on the context in which these details should fit. Blair is ready to do whatever it takes to get this agreement, realising that it is an ambitious target that can only be reached if all Member States have firm desire and determination to reach it, said Kelly. Following intense consultation in recent months with European leaders, Tony Blair is convinced there is desire in all Member States to reach overall agreement at Hampton Court on the direction the European Union should be moving in. The European Commission's reflection document for Hampton Court is a very interesting document that would provide an agenda and strategic framework for the discussions among EU heads of state, said Kelly. The idea of establishing a Globalisation Adjustment Fund has its merits and is worth examining, said Kelly, stressing that it's always better to help redundant workers find a new job rather than supporting uncompetitive businesses. The British Presidency has also commissioned several academic reports on issues like education, R&D and immigration, which will be unveiled on Wednesday.