Brussels, 12/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 12 June, the European Parliament argued in favour of keeping the envelope of the future Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived “at least” at its current level, in other words €3.5 billion over the period 2014-2020 (at least €500 million a year). The Commission and the Council are looking at cutting this envelope by €1 billion (to €2.5 billion) compared to the current period (2007-2013). Most of the MEPs voted in favour of the mandatory participation of the EU countries in this programme. In addition, if the member states decide not to make use of the fund, the EP argues that the budget should remain available to the poorest people. The EP would like the Community co-funding rate to stand at 85% of eligible expenditure (option to increase this to 95% for the member states which have been hardest hit by the crisis). The scope of the fund will be extended to allow not only a distribution of foodstuffs, but also the provision of essential items to the poorest citizens. The EP's amendments to the proposal were adopted in plenary (513 votes to 149, with 27 abstentions). However, the final vote on the legislative resolution of the report by Emer Costello (S&D, Ireland) on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived has been postponed in order to allow formal negotiations to open with the Council. The final budget of the fund will depend on the outcome of the negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020. (LC/transl.fl)