Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 November 2011, the EU Council of Ministers approved the EU budget for 2012 as agreed by the European Parliament in Conciliation Committee talks on 18 and 19 November (see EUROPE 10499). If the compromise deal is also agreed upon by the European Parliament on Thursday 1 December 2011, then the EU budget for next year will be passed and enter into force. The payment appropriations in the 2012 budget total €129.088 billion, 0.98% of the EU's gross national income, up 1.86% on the EU budget for 2011 (taking the amending budgets into account). Given that according to the European Commission's forecasts, inflation will hit 2% in the EU next year, the budget for 2012 fall in real terms. Commitment appropriations for next year total € 147.232 billion, up 3.545% on this year. (LC/transl.fl)