07/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - In adopting the Ville Itäla report in Brussels on Thursday 7 June, the EP set the budget at €1.427 billion for 2008, a 2.1% increase on the 2007 budget. This includes a total amount of € 41.8 million for its information policy, but Parliament regrets the delays in setting up the parliamentary television channel (WebTV). It decided that the €9 million intended for this TV channel should now be placed in the “Contingency reserve” pending a more precise estimate of the cost of the project. In addition, the EP expressed it surprise at the considerable increase in the costs of rents, which have taken up half the savings which resulted from the purchase of the Strasbourg buildings. (lc)