18/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 13 December, the European Parliament approved the compromise achieved through conciliation with the Council on improvements to the 2002 arrangements on the financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (see EUROPE 9318). The report by Ingeborg Grässle (EPP-ED, Germany) on this issue, which was negotiated at the same time as the 2007 budget, was passed by 606 votes to 28, with 16 abstentions. (lc)