Charm offensive aims to woo east European states on budget

At the start of its six-month Presidency of the European Union, July-December 2005, the UK will begin a charm offensive to improve relations with Poland and other eastern European Member States after UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to veto a financial deal for the European Union at the European Council in Brussels, 16-17 June 2005. Mr Blair's deputy, John Prescott, and Europe Minister Douglas Alexander will travel to eastern European countries to explain why the UK vetoed a budget deal that the ten new Member States so badly wanted.