18/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - During the special plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday 18 December, the EP president, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Commission president, José Manuel Barroso and the acting president of the EU Council, José Socrates, officially signed the general budget of the EU for 2008, as adopted last week (EUROPE 9564). (A.B.)