11/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Wednesday 11 March, the European Parliament approved the draft amending budget No 1/2009 (report by Jutta Haug) and also the decision (report by Reimer Böge) releasing €11.8 million in commitment and payment appropriations from the European Union Solidarity Fund following the floods which affected Romania in July 2008. In 2008, €280.8 million were released from this fund for the United Kingdom (€162.3 million), Greece (€89.7 million), Slovenia (€8.2 million), France (Guadeloupe and Martinique - €12.7 million) and Cyprus (€7.6 million). (L.C./transl.rt)