Brussels, 08/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the member states of the European Union, Frontex, may have a budget totalling €68 million for the year 2008, Simon Busuttil, MEP (EPP-ED, Malta) said on Saturday 6 October. Last week, the European Parliament's budgetary committee had voted in favour of doubling the Agency's budget compared to 2007 (EUROPE 9517). The draft budget should still be adopted in identical terms by the Parliament and Council. According to Mr Busuttil, the draft budget 2008 is broken down as follows: - €14,466,000 for staff and administrative expenditure (compared to €13.4 million in 2007); - €53,534,000 for operational expenditure (compared to €20.58 million in 2007). This means that the increase foreseen is almost exclusively for the operational budget (€30 million), i.e. missions conducted by Frontex. The increase in the operational budget was adopted on the basis of an amendment by the EPP-ED Group. The EP budgetary committee also decided to freeze 30% of the Agency's administrative budget, i.e. about €5 million. This amount will be paid when Frontex is able to deliver more effectively. (bc)