21/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 21 October, the European Parliament approved the amending budget (the seventh on the 2008 budget) and the allocation of €12.78 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to France, after hurricane Dean ravaged Martinique and Guadeloupe in August 2007 (see EUROPE 9761). The two reports on these issues were adopted by large majorities: the report by Reimer Böge (EPP-ED, Germany) on use of the Solidarity Fund was passed by 647 votes to 17, with 16 abstentions, and the report by Kyösti Virrankoski (ALDE, Finland) on the amending budget by 649 votes to 21, with 11 abstentions. The previous day, Monday 20 October, the EU Council of Ministers adopted the texts without debate. (L.C./transl.rt)