27/11/24 (Agence Europe) – Draft amending budget 5/2024, relating to the adjustment of payment appropriations and the updating of revenue, as proposed by the EU Council, was adopted on Wednesday 27 November at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, by 525 votes to 75 with 81 abstentions. The draft budget entails a net increase of €44.5 million in commitment appropriations and €2.95 billion in payment appropriations. It introduces new revenue and expenditure headings for the cooperation mechanism for loans to Ukraine, as well as an increase in payment appropriation requirements for the European Regional Development Fund. The increase in payment appropriations is almost covered by revenue from fines and periodic penalty payments, including the €2.4 billion fine imposed on Google for breaches of antitrust rules. (FS)