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E.U. Squabbles Over Money, Subsidies 22 October 2002 The European Union presidency has warned that eastward expansion could be at risk if current members fail to reach an agreement on how to finance the plan.
E.U. foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg yesterday and today, failed to bridge differences over whether to reform agricultural and regional subsidies when the grouping is expanded. Germany is pushing for a scaling down of the subsidies, while France says they should remain in place until 2006. France also wants negotiations on post-enlargement financing to include the issue of the budget rebate enjoyed by Britain since 1984. Ten countries - mostly former communist states - are hoping to join the European Union by 2004. Denmark hopes to conclude membership talks with the 10 countries in December. The fast-track membership candidates are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta. Irish voters approved the landmark E.U. Nice Treaty for expansion
on Saturday. |