Brussels, 06/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The interinstitutional agreement relating to the funding of the European Convention has been extended for 2003. The agreement, published in the Official Journal C320 of 20 December, earmarks EUR 950,000 to cover the Convention's operating costs from 1 January 2003 until the end of its work (this coming June, in principle) and at the latest until 31 December 2003. The amount includes EUR 450,000 for allowances, salaries, costs incurred by the various missions, and representation, and EUR 500,000 for operating costs strictly speaking, of which 400,000 will be for brochures and publications (see Official Journal L 349 of 24 December). The financing is assured by two contributions from the Council (EUR 200,000) and the Commission (EUR 750,000). We recall that a large part of the Convention's operating costs is directly borne by the European Parliament which mainly hosts the plenary sessions.