Treasury written statement – made at on 24 May 2006.
Edward Balls
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury
The statement on the 2006 budget of the European Communities (EC budget), entitled "European Community Finances" (Cm 6770), has today been laid before Parliament. This white paper is the 26th in the series. As in the past, it covers annual budgetary matters and includes details of recent developments in European Community financial management and in countering fraud against the EC budget. It also describes the EC budget for 2006 as adopted by the European Parliament, and details the United Kingdom's gross and net contributions to the EC budget for calendar years 2000 to 2006 and financial years 2000-01 to 2007-08.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
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