Brussels, 27/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, in keeping with an agreement concluded with the Council and Parliament during budgetary concertation on Monday, the European Commission adopted the proposal of Michaele Schreyer for a decision to secure next year's grants to two information outlets, the urban Info-Points Europe (IPE) and rural promotion Carrefours (266 outlets in total). This decision allows the provisions in the new regulation to be counterposed temporarily, which stipulate that operation aid cannot be granted until after a call for tenders or after the implementation of a legal basis. Community funding for these information points will continue next year before the new rules are defined in 2005. Until now, structures hosting the offices receive an annual Community subsidy for operational costs which rises in most cases to EUR 20,000, as well as a contribution (usually higher) from the national authorities. The 140 IPEs and 126 Carrefours spread throughout the Union and have proved reliable and effective conduits for EU information. They are run on the basis of annually renewable agreements between the Commission and what is known as a “host structure” often a public authority or NGO. (On the subject of the debate at the EP, see EUROPE 25 November p 17)