Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on 7 December 2005 emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to discuss the EU budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39312/05]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if an agreement will be reached under the UK Presidency of the EU with regard to the next financial perspectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39194/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 98 together.

The European Council meets tomorrow to try to reach political agreement on the European Union's future financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013. Negotiations are likely to be difficult as there are important issues to resolve. We continue to press for a deal that will enable the Union to meet the needs and expectations of its citizens over the years ahead.

As part of the preparations for tomorrow's meeting of heads of state and government, I participated at two meetings of EU Foreign Ministers over the past week. The first was a ministerial "conclave" devoted to the financial perspectives on 7 December, while the second was the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 December. Member states have set out in detail their reactions to the UK Presidency's compromise proposals issued on 5 December. A revised Presidency proposal is expected later today.

At the conclave and at the Taoiseach's bilateral meeting on 9 December with the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Tony Blair, Ireland expressed considerable concern at the thrust of the Presidency proposals, especially the cuts affecting cohesion and rural development. We agree with almost all other member states that the UK's offer on the rebate is insufficient and that all member states need to pay their fair share of the costs of enlargement. We are seeking for the October 2002 agreement on the CAP to be respected fully. We are opposed to a review whose outcome is meant to take effect in advance of 2014.

These are the main issues for Ireland in the lead-up to tomorrow's European Council. There is no doubting the widespread desire for political agreement on the financial perspectives. Much will depend, however, on the revised compromise proposals expected shortly. An agreement can still be achieved but there is a need for movement on a number of key fronts. The Government will report to the House in detail on the European Council's outcome early next year.