Brussels, 06/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - Welcoming the outcome of the trilogue on the financial framework for 2007-2013 (see EUROPE 9168), the President of the Committee of the Regins (CoR) Michel Delebarre noted that it allowed the budget to be strengthened in areas that were important for citizens (education, research, trans-European networks) “policies which are for this Committee, essential pillars to guarantee the Lisbon objectives will be reached”. “This agreement sends a message of confidence to citizens at a time of uncertainty on the future of the EU,” he said, stressing particularly “the role of the European Parliament which has always demonstrated its responsible realism and European vision, to take negotiations forward by improving the agreement reached on several chapters at the December Summit”. In a press release, Mr Delebarre noted that the Committee had achieved some success in its call for greater funding for territorial cooperation, but he also acknowledged that this budget agreement revealed weaknesses in the EU's current financing system. The CoR, then, hoped for some improvement in the review of the budget structure scheduled for 2008-2009, in which the EP should play a vital role. Mr Delebarre said, “It is important that local and regional authorities are involved in the European institutions' reflection process, since they sponsor European projects on the ground, but also as players and tax system decision makers in Member States”.