Leaders discuss EU budget
17/06/2005 - 15:37:45European leaders are intensifying efforts this afternoon to resolve their differences on the European Union budget.
Although the Government is insisting the Common Agricultural Policy is not open to re-negotiation, there are growing indications Irish farmers could end up receiving less money from the EU.
The latest rounds of talks is taking place behind closed doors.
Britain has said Romanian and Bulgarian farmers should be funded out of the €293bn fund agreed in 2002, a scenario like that would see Irish farmer incomes fall.
The Luxembourg presidency is coming under pressure to find other source of funding from other budgets.
At the moment EU leaders are holding bilateral meetings and it will be known this evening whether a deal is struck.
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