MEPS AND COMMISSION GEAR UP FOR DEBATE ON PRELIMINARY DRAFT BUDGET FOR 2000.

Whereas the European Commission is poised to hold a policy debate on the EU's Preliminary Draft Budget for 2000 - a debate which is complicated by the lack of agreement at this stage in the Council of Ministers on the financial perspective for 2000-2006, the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets has appointed Jean-Louis Bourlanges (EPP, France) as rapporteur. Mr Bourlanges will submit his report on the budgetary trends for the year 2000 on February 17.

Although there is a majority in the Council of Ministers in favour of stabilising expenditure at 1999 levels, there are widely divergent views within the Parliament (see previous issue of European Report). For its part, the European Commission is reluctant to go along with a...