16/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption on Tuesday 16 December of the report by Kyösti Virrankoski (ALDE, Finland), the Parliament approved the amending budget No 9/2008 as such. The budget covers the following elements: - inclusion in the budget of a rise of forecast receipts (€1.198 billion); - reduction of €4.89 billion in payment appropriations under several headings; - and the inclusion of budgetary aspects for the financing in 2008 of the facility for responding to the surge in food prices in developing countries (after the compromise found between Parliament and Council on 21 November 2008). (L.C./transl.jl)