Brussels, 24/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - MEPs from the regional development committee (REGI) at the European Parliament have confirmed that cohesion policy co-funding rates will be increased by 10 percentage points until 2015, in countries that are still affected by the crisis. On Tuesday, 24 September, they adopted the draft report by Oldrich Vlasak (ECR, Czech Republic), which goes further than the recommendations by the Commission and Council. It calls for all member states, as part of the adjustment programme (as well as those that have been part of it or those still receiving financial assistance) to be able to benefit from a higher co-funding rate until the end of the 2007-2013 programming period and not just countries that benefited from it when the amendments were approved (such as Portugal, Greece and Cyprus). MEPs also confirmed that Romania and Slovakia would be able to benefit from this increase, as compensation for the consequences resulting from the cap imposed on the 2014-2020 donation at 110% of the level for the 2007-2013 period, as sought by the Council last February. The decision of the REGI committee is expected to be confirmed in November plenary. (MD/transl.fl)