23/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - Belgium decided last Thursday to increase by 55% the funds allocated to its European Union Presidency. "Due to the disappointing results of sponsoring and the need for additional financial means for organising the European Council of Gent and Laeken, further financing must be provided for", said the spokesman for Guy Verhofstadt's government after the weekly meeting. After having foreseen a provision of EUR 22.31 million, Belgium had already increased the budget...