Brussels, 31/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 30 August, the Estonian parliament ratified by a comfortable majority (59 for, 34 against, and one abstention) the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - the future permanent European bailout fund which will replace the current European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). The entry into force of the ESM hangs more than ever on the decision, expected on Wednesday 12 September, of the German constitutional court of Karlsruhe on the compatibility of the permanent fund and the treaty strengthening budgetary discipline with German parliamentary prerogatives. At the end of March, the eurozone decided to combine the €200 billion of aid already allocated under the EFSF with the €500 billion of the ESM, thus bringing its anti-crisis financial firewall to €700 billion (see EUROPE 10586). (MB/transl.fl)