28/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - Democratici di sinistra MEP Gianni Pittella, the rapporteur on the budget 2006, in a press release criticises the rigidity of the Council who, during the consultation with the Parliament last Thursday, prevented an agreement being reached for the second reading of this budget, and all “for a few hundred million” (see EUROPE 9076). The differences between the two branches of the budgetary authority were “minimal”, notes Mr Pittella, pointing out that the Parliament, in “constructive” spirit, in the consultation ultimately accepted a level of payment credits equal to that in the European Commission proposal. Mr Pittella also deemed the Council's rejection of the Parliament's demands on “flexibility” (230 million euros for emergencies such as Iraq or the sugar reforms) “inexplicable”.