My honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ian Pearson) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I will attend the budget ECOFIN to be held on 10 July in Brussels. The preliminary draft budget for the European Communities for 2010 will be discussed, with council looking to agree its first reading position in preparation for a conciliation meeting with the European Parliament, which will be held directly after budget ECOFIN.

Items on the agenda are as follows:

preparation of the conciliation meeting with the European Parliament; and

establishment by the council of the draft budget for the European Communities for 2010.