05/06/2020 (Agence Europe) – On 4 June, MEPs on the European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) agreed – 66 votes in favour, eight against and three abstentions – to open interinstitutional negotiations on the proposal for a regulation establishing the European Defence Fund (EDF). The EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA groups all voted unanimously in favour; the ECR, which is the group of the Polish rapporteur, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, voted almost unanimously in favour; the GUE/NGL voted against this and ID was split over the vote. The negotiation concerns the amount allocated to the EDF. The European Parliament wants to allocate €11.5 billion (2018 prices) to the EDF, whereas the European Commission has proposed €8 billion (see EUROPE 12494/1). The other subject that is still under negotiation is the participation of associated countries. By February 2019, the European Parliament and the EU Council had reached an agreement over the EDF, except on these two points (see EUROPE 12239/10, 12198/22). (CG)