Six premiers take France, Germany and Britain to task over reform

On 16 February 2004, two days before an informal tripartite summit in Berlin between the leaders of France, Germany and the UK, the leaders of Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Estonia have sent a joint letter to Bertie Ahern, Irish holder of the rotating Presidency of the European Union. The letter calls for 'sound budget policies' and economic reform and was one of a number of submissions to the Irish Presidency as it prepares for the Spring European Council in March 2004.