09/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - As every year, the Commission has, through the written procedure, and before presenting its preliminary draft budget, adopted the maximum rate of increase in non-compulsory expenditure (MRI) for 2002, setting it at 3.5% (against 3.3% for budget 2001). According to the budgetary procedure (Article 272 of the EC Treaty), Parliament may increase the amount of non-compulsory expenditure through amendments made to the draft budget within the limits of this rate,...