08/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - COREPER endorses several aspects of EU budget for 2011. On Wednesday 8 December 2010, the Committee of Member States' Permanent Representatives to the EU (COREPER) endorsed various items of legislation (see EUROPE 10270) including: - the draft EU budget for 2011 (a 2.91% rise in payment appropriations); increasing the Financial Framework by €840 million to provide cash for ITER in 2011 and 2012 (plus €460 million from redeployment); - a decision to provide €105 million from the Flexibility Fund; - and the legislation setting out the new Contingency Reserve. COREPER gave the Presidency a negotiating mandate to enable agreement to be reached with the EP so that the Contingency Reserve can be added to the regulation on the multiannual Financial Framework for 2007-2013. The Council of Ministers is expected to endorse the draft EU budget for 2011 on 10 December 1010, before the EP votes on it in plenary on 15 December. The EP's budgets committee has asked the S&D, Greens, ALDE and GUE/NGL political parties to postpone until Monday 13 December 2010 the votes on ITER and on the new flexibility set-up. The vote on the draft EU budget for 2011 took place on Wednesday 8 December 2010. (L.C./transl.fl)