BRUSSELS : Counting It Up

Foreign ministers from the 12 European Community nations will probably pay some attention to such globally important issues as world trade and the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. But when they meet in Brussels next Monday, it will be money that really dominates their thoughts.

The Community’s rich members, led by Germany, annually channel billions of dollars of aid to the “poor four” members--Spain, Portugal, Greece and Ireland. When foreign ministers tried earlier this month to work out the budget for the next six years, Ireland balked at its proposed share of $10.7 billion, which it called $700 million less than it had been promised.

Adding to the difficulties, poor regions in such otherwise well-to-do EC members as Britain and Belgium are also demanding a share of the aid. For example, France is angry that foreign ministers tentatively plan to aid Belgium’s Hainaut province but not the French province of Nord Pas-de-Calais.