Agenda 2000 and the 2000-2006 financial perspective
Agenda 2000 and the 2000-2006 financial perspective
Budgetary reform since 1988
The budget of the European Union: how is your money spent?
TexteThis booklet, published for the general public by the Commission in 2000, sets out the financing of the European Union, the use of the Community budget, the budgetary procedure and the way in which the EU ensures the proper and efficient management of expenditure.
The ‘Santer Package’ (Agenda 2000)
Commission Communication (I), Agenda 2000 for a stronger and wider Union (1997)
TexteVolume I of the European Commission Communication of 16 July 1997 entitled Agenda 2000: for a stronger and wider Union.
European Commission Communication (II), Agenda 2000. The Challenge of Enlargement (1997)
TexteVolume II of the Communication Agenda 2000, presented on 16 July 1997 by the European Commission, relating to the reinforcement of the pre-accession strategy.
Agenda 2000 of the European Commission (III): Summary and conclusions of the opinions of the Commission concerning the applications for accession (15 July 1997)
TexteOn 16 July 1997, the European Commission delivers its opinion on the applications for accession to the European Union in its Communication Agenda 2000, which gives the summaries and conclusions of these opinions.
Elmar Brok, L'Agenda 2000 de l'UE (décembre 1997)
TexteDans la perspective de l'Agenda 2000, publié en juillet 1997 par la Commission européenne, Elmar Brok, membre du Parlement européen, fait le bilan des travaux de la Conférence intergouvernementale de 1996. Il analyse en détail la révision du traité de Maastricht et souligne la nécessité de l'élargissement de l'Union européenne.
"L'Europe du XXIe siècle" dans El País (17 juillet 1997)
TexteOn 17 July 1997, the Madrid-based daily newspaper El País fears that Agenda 2000 is too closely based on past European policies and does not correspond with the reality of Europe’s future.
‘An uninspiring reform’ from Le Monde (18 July 1997)
TexteOn 18 July 1997, the French daily newspaper Le Monde criticises the lack of ambition in the European Commission’s work programme entitled ‘Agenda 2000’.
‘Agenda 2000: the European Commission prepares Europe for enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe’ from Revue du Marché Commun et de l’Union Européenne (September 1997)
TexteIn September 1997, the journal Revue du Marché Commun et de l’Union Européenne examines the impact of the enlargement of the European Union on Agenda 2000.
Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on Agenda 2000 (Brussels, 30 October 1997)
TexteOn 30 October 1997, the Economic and Social Committee publishes its Opinion on the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘Agenda 2000’.
Report on Agenda 2000 compiled by the Delegation from the French National Assembly to the EU (Paris, 6 November 1997)
TexteOn 6 November 1997, on behalf of the Delegation of the French National Assembly to the European Union, which he heads, Henri Nallet, Socialist MP, submits to his fellow MPs a detailed report on Agenda 2000.
Pierluigi Castagnetti, Agenda 2000: is a stronger and larger Europe possible? (November 1997)
TexteIn November 1997, Pierluigi Castagnetti, MEP and Head of the Italian Delegation of the European People’s Party (PPE) in the European Parliament, considers the provisions of Agenda 2000.
Demonstration by farmers against the proposed reform of the CAP (Valence, 10 December 1997)
ImageOn 10 December 1997, following an appeal by the French National Federation of Agricultural Workers’ Trade Unions (FNSEA) and National Centre for Young Farmers (CNJA), several thousand farmers take to the streets of Valence, Drôme, to protest against the proposed reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) included in Agenda 2000 (the ‘Santer Package’).
Agenda 2000
ImageOn 26 March 1999, at the Berlin European Council, the Fifteen adopt Agenda 2000, which establishes an action programme relating to the internal operation of the European Union, to the introduction of a new financial framework, to a reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and to the pre-accession process for the applicant countries before the enlargement of the EU.
Cartoon by Hanel on Agenda 2000 (1999)
ImageIn 1999, Hanel, German cartoonist, depicts Agenda 2000 as an obstacle to the continuation of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
‘Spillikins in the European Union’ from Die Presse (1 March 1999)
TexteOn 1 March 1999, the Vienna daily newspaper Die Presse highlights the difficulties faced by the European Union Member States in shouldering their political responsibilities in connection with the reforms required to guarantee the efficient operation of the EU.
German farmers protesting against Agenda 2000 (Strasbourg, 10 February 1999)
ImageOn 10 February 1999, German farmers protest in front of the European Parliament buildings in Strasbourg in order to condemn the nature of Agenda 2000, which they judge to be too bureaucratic, and to protest against the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) being prepared by the European Commission. (Protest placards read: ‘Agenda 2000 — Not like this! Nothing in sight but bureaucracy.’)
German farmers protesting against Agenda 2000 (Bonn, 26 February 1999)
ImageOn 26 February 1999, in Bonn, on the margins of the informal summit of Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen, German farmers protest against the agricultural reforms provided for by Agenda 2000.
German Federal Government statement on Agenda 2000 following the resignation of the European Commission (18 March 1999)
TexteOn 18 March 1999, following the collective resignation of the European Commission under its President, Jacques Santer, on 15 March, the German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer reviews the state of negotiations relating to Agenda 2000.
The Berlin European Council (24 and 25 March 1999)
‘Agenda 2000, moment of truth for the European Union’ from Le Monde (24 March 1999)
TexteOn 24 March 1999, Peter Hartmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in Paris, comments on the issue of the financing of the European Union and emphasises the implications of Agenda 2000.
'Schröder goes solo' from Die Zeit (March 1999)
TexteIn March 1999, the day after the collective resignation of the European Commission and on the eve of the Berlin Summit on Agenda 2000, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses the efforts made by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to help Europe to find a way out of the crisis.
'British deal on offer to summit' from The Guardian (23 March 1999)
TexteOn 23 March 1999, commenting on the implications of the Berlin European Council of 24 and 25 March, the British daily newspaper The Guardian outlines the efforts of the German and British Governments to secure a political agreement on the rebate on the British contribution to the Community budget.
‘The Fifteen convene at crisis Summit’ from Libération (24 March 1999)
TexteOn 24 March 1999, at the height of the crisis in the European Commission, the French daily newspaper Libération considers the key issue at stake at the Berlin European Council, namely the adoption of Agenda 2000.
‘The whole world is looking at Berlin’ from the Luxemburger Wort (24 March 1999)
TexteOn 24 March 1999, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort comments on the issues involved in the Berlin European Council held on 24 and 25 March.
‘The sad end of the reform of the century’ from the Süddeutsche Zeitung (24 March 1999)
TexteOn 24 March 1999, the Bavarian daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung comments on the position adopted by the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, at the Berlin European Council held on 24 and 25 March.
The Berlin European Council (24 and 25 March 1999)
Procession of farmers protesting against Agenda 2000 (Berlin, 24 March 1999)
ImageOn 24 March 1999, on the margins of the Extraordinary European Council devoted to the financial framework for the common agricultural policy (CAP), thousands of German farmers demonstrate on the streets of Berlin against the agricultural reform measures set out in Agenda 2000.
Conclusions of the Berlin European Council: extract concerning Agenda 2000 (24 and 25 March 1999)
TexteOn 25 March 1999, the Berlin European Council reaches an overall agreement on Agenda 2000 and establishes a new Financial Perspective for the European Union for the period 2000–2006.
Extraordinary European Council meeting held in Berlin (24 and 25 March 1999)
ImageAt the end of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council held on 24 and 25 March 1999 in Berlin, the Heads of State or Government of the fifteen Member States of the European Union endorse the implementation of the new common agricultural policy (CAP) and the financial perspective relating to Agenda 2000.
‘Difficult negotiations on Agenda 2000 at the summit meeting' from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (26 March 1999)
TexteOn 26 March 1999, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung comments on the efforts made by the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen at the Berlin European Council, held on 24 and 25 March, to reach agreement on the agricultural, structural and financial reforms included in Agenda 2000.
"L'Espagne bloque le sommet de Berlin" dans El País (26 mars 1999)
TexteOn 26 March 1999, the Madrid-based daily newspaper El País reports on the negotiations between the 15 Member States of the European Union at the Berlin European Council on 24 and 25 March 1999. After lengthy, difficult discussions over Agenda 2000, the Fifteen reach an ‘overall compromise’.
‘Blair fight for “not a euro less” in rebate’ from The Guardian (26 March 1999)
TexteOn 26 March 1999, the British daily newspaper The Guardian comments on British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s fight at the Berlin European Council of 24 and 25 March to maintain the rebate granted to the United Kingdom in the financing of the Community budget.
‘Europe’s Gang of Four fight for less money’ from Die Welt (26 March 1999)
TexteOn 26 March 1999, commenting on the outcome of the Berlin European Council held on 24 and 25 March, the German daily newspaper Die Welt reports on the attempt made by the four net contributor states of the European Union (the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Germany) to reduce their contribution to the Community budget.
Press conference held by Jacques Chirac and Pierre Moscovici following the Berlin European Council (26 March 1999)
TexteOn 26 March 1999, following the Extraordinary European Council held in Berlin, Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, and Pierre Moscovici, French Minister for European Affairs, hold a press conference in which they review the negotiations between the Fifteen with particular regard to Agenda 2000.
‘The debate on European integration can be revived' from Le Monde (27 March 1999)
TexteOn 27 March 1999, with reference to the Berlin Summit, the French daily newspaper Le Monde welcomes the Fifteen’s adoption of the proposals put forward by the European Commission for the implementation of Agenda 2000, which lays down the EU’s financial framework for 2000–2006.
Interview with Pierre Moscovici: the Berlin European Council and Agenda 2000 (Paris, 23 July 2008)
VidéoIn this interview, Pierre Moscovici, Minister for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1997 to 2002, criticises the outcome of the Berlin European Council held on 24 and 25 March 1999 at which Agenda 2000 was adopted, an action programme relating to the internal operation of the European Union, the establishment of a new financial framework, the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the pre-accession strategy for the applicant countries before the fifth enlargement of the EU.
The issue of the budget of the European Union
Interinstitutional Agreement on the budgetary procedure (6 May 1999)
TexteInterinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure.
Address given by Noëlle Lenoir in the Senate during the review of the Community levy (Paris, 26 November 2003)
TexteOn 26 November 2003, Noëlle Lenoir, French Minister for European Affairs, submits to the Senate in Paris the draft European Union budget for 2004 and outlines its impact on the French national budget.
Address given by Claudie Haigneré on the French contribution to the European Union budget (Paris, 25 October 2004)
TexteOn 25 October 2004, Claudie Haigneré, French Minister for European Affairs, submits to the National Assembly the proposal for France’s contribution to the European Union budget for 2005.