The general budget is the core of the European Union financial system. Multi-annual programming has the primary significance for shaping it. The instrument for such programming is the so-called Financial Perspectives. , The Financial Perspective which was adopted in 1999 remains in force until the end of 2006. At the beginning of 2004, the European Commission presented the underlying assumptions of the subsequent Financial Perspective, which will be in force in the years 2007-2013. These assumptions do not foresee an increase in the general budget resources in comparison with the current state, as regards the proportion of budget receipts to the Gross National Income (GNI). As previously, this proportion shall not exceed 1.24%. The Commission did, however, propose significant changes regarding priority areas to which EU budget expenditures will be directed. These priorities take into account the accession of new member states to the European Union, and relate to the completion of the Single Internal Market, the achievement of European citizenship and ensuring that the EU may act as a global partner. In general, the purpose of the new Financial Perspective is to favour the improvement of competitiveness of the European Union economy vis-a-vis its major trade competitors. The basic problem in shaping the future EU financial system is the reluctance of the most affluent member states to increase the general budget to such an extent that it would be possible to allocate sufficiently high development assistance to new EU states.