Mixed response to enlargement funding plan

AS the European Union outlined to accession States yesterday how it intends to finance expansion to the east, the reaction of the Irish farm lobby to the deal remained divided.

The leaders of the 10 accession States travelled to Copenhagen for a briefing on the funding package, which was finalised by the EU after a two-day summit in Brussels last week following a French-German compromise.

Under the deal, direct farm aid to accession countries would be phased in from 2004. From 2007, spending would be capped and would not increase beyond the rate of inflation up to 2013.