Brussels, 10/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - As expected, on Friday 10 December, the EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate its endorsement of the new draft EU budget for 2011 of a total of €126.5bn in payment appropriations (up 2.9% on 2010) and €141.9bn in commitment appropriations (up 0.3% on 2010). On 15 December, the European Parliament is due to formally endorse the EU's budget for next year. The Council adopted a decision to allow money to be taken from the Flexibility Instrument (€18 million for the lifelong learning programme, €16m for the innovation and competitiveness programme and €71m for Palestine). It adopted a decision revising the multiannual Financial Framework to fund the ITER thermonuclear reactor project in 2012 and 2013, and a draft Amending Budget (No. 10/2010) with a rise in forecast income and a reduction in expenditure, in line with the latest needs assessments. (L.C./transl.fl)