Brussels, 21/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 20 October, the European Parliament requested maximum use of budget flexibility to finance (in 2010) the first tranche of the €75 million in accompanying measures in the banana sector. The European Commission had planned financing bananas accompanying measures (BAM) over the years 2010 to 2013, with an overall budget of €190 million and a potential supplementary €10 million, if margins allow.
By adopting the report by László Surján (EPP, Hungary) on the draft amending budget No. 3 for the current budget (2010), the EP is disagreeing with the position of the Council, which wanted redeployment within heading 4 of the budget (EUR 55.8 million out of EUR 75 million), to the disadvantage of certain other actions and to review the remaining amount later.
The EP would like the financing of banana aid to be carried out in the following way: use of the available margin in heading 4 (external action), which is only €1 million; -a new proposal from the Commission to use the flexibility instrument for the remaining €74 million. The EP is therefore modifying draft amending budget No.3/2010 established by the Council, and a procedure is being opened in view of negotiating a compromise solution. (L.C./transl.fl)