Brussels, 09/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - A large majority of Member States were opposed during the Coreper meeting of 8 February to the increased allocation for the flexibility instrument as proposed by the European Commission (the Commission suggesting an increase from EUR 200 to 700 million annually for 2007-2013: EUROPE 9124 and 9122). Furthermore, Member States took a clear stance on the subject of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund pending the Commission's legislative proposal. During the Coreper meeting on 8 February, many Member States defended the agreement of the European Council of December 2005 on the financial perspectives for 2007-2013, stressing that there was little margin of manoeuvre for negotiation. Most delegations do not want a significant increase in the allocation for the flexibility instrument. The Commission suggests EUR 700 million, with some countries preferring 400 million (Slovakia) or 300 million (Poland) but most wish to remain with the current budget of 200 million. France recalled that the EU had just once used the 200 million foreseen during the 2000-2006 period. The Commission also suggests the application, each year from 2007 to 2013, of a fixed deflator of 2% for all headings, which is considered too high by the main net contributors to the budget (some of which feel that a 1.5% deflator would be more acceptable). On 16 February, Coreper will prepare the mandate of the Austrian EU Council Presidency with a view to the trilogue of 21 February on negotiation of a new interinstitutional agreement.