47. Progress has been made in preparatory work to establish the CFSP policy planning and early warning unit and consolidate relations between the EU and the WEU.The Treaty of Amsterdam establishes that the General Secretariat of the Council shall be under the responsibility of a Secretary-General, High Representative for the CFSP, assisted by a Deputy Secretary-General.So as to meet its commitment at Amsterdam that the new Treaty should be fully operational once it enters into force, the European Council resolves to take  necessary decisions in this regard at its meeting in Vienna.

48. In the light of the good progress which has been made towards integrating the Schengen Secretariat into the General Secretariat of the Council and determining the appropriate legal bases for the Schengen acquis, the European Council looks forward to early agreement on these issues.It also looks forward to agreement at the next General Affairs Council on the mandate for negotiations with Norway and Iceland, and urges their timely completion.It calls on the Council and Commission to present to its meeting in Vienna an Action Plan on how best to implement the provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam on an area of freedom and security and justice.

49.The European Council notes that the European Parliament is developing proposals for the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the duties of its Members, for consideration by the Commission and the Council as foreseen by the Amsterdam Treaty.

AGENDA 2000

50. Agenda 2000 is of fundamental importance for the future development of the European Union.The Union must make important choices about key policies and the medium term financial framework within which they will be developed.The European Council recognises that final agreement will need to be reached on the Agenda 2000 proposals as a whole.

51.Without prejudice to such a final agreement, the European Council considers that useful progress can already be identified in the light of the report from the Presidency and the Council.

The Future Financial Framework

52. A new financial perspective is essential for budget discipline, efficient expenditure and for an appropriate financial framework permitting the coordinated evolution of major categories of expenditure in accordance with the priorities defined for developing Community policies There is broad agreement that it should be set for a seven-year period (2000 - 2006) with provision for adjustment at the time of the first enlargement.Without prejudice to the amounts to be identified for pre-accession aid,

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