Brussels, 18/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 13 October, the European Parliament approved, with amendments, the proposal aimed at introducing the obligation for Member States to take part in the funding of market support measures used in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or classical swine fever. The Parliament approved the second report by Niels Busk (ALDE, Denmark) providing for up to 75% of the joint funding of such measures to come from the Community budget (compared to 50% in the initial proposal). In April this year, the EP had decided to reject the proposal being of the opinion that the introduction of joint funding would open the way to re-nationalisation of Common Agricultural Policy (EUROPE 8948). The regulation currently in force allows such measures to be financed up to 100% from the Community budget. The EP has now finally agreed that there should be co-funding from Member States (but to a lesser extent than in the initial proposal), on condition that the capitals ensure that, where necessary, the producers' contribution to be borne by Member States does not entail competition distortion between producers. EP amendments stipulate that the European Commission should oversee the situation in order to determine whether such competition distortion has taken place and to take any necessary measures.