The Taoiseach called yesterday for swift agreement on the European Union's long-term budget and urged richer nations to fulfil their promise on crucial development funds for new member states.
"Both of us would like to see early agreements, to allow work on the necessary EU implementing regulations," Mr Ahern said after meeting Hungarian prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in Budapest.
Mr Ahern also underlined that he wanted the new budget to respect "the letter and the spirit" of the European Council 2002 agreement on agricultural reforms.
"This is really the only area that's important to us, because that agreement resulted in the most fundamental reform of [ the EU's common agricultural policy], and that reform is just now being implemented," he said.
Mr Gyurcsany said the 10 countries that joined the EU last May, most of which were from the old Soviet bloc, were drafting a common letter on budget issues to be presented to Britain, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
It would urge British prime minister Tony Blair - who visits Hungary on Friday - to appreciate the importance of so-called cohesion funds, which help new EU countries catch up with economically stronger older members, and aid vital reform programmes.
"We are very supportive of the cohesion funds," Mr Ahern insisted. "This is a deal that was made and we should stick to it."
Mr Gyurcsany said he would make such a point to Mr Blair when he arrived in Budapest to meet leaders of the so-called Visegrad Four: Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.