27/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in plenary, an overwhelming majority of the European Parliament (581 to 7 and 5 abstentions) adopted on Thursday 23 April the report by Ulrich Stockmann (PES, Germany), supporting proposals made by the European Commission for revision of the Marco Polo II programme (which promotes modal transfer of freight transport). Like the Commission, MEPs took the view it was necessary to facilitate participation by small and medium-sized enterprises in the programme (by authorising, among other things, participation of consortia), to lower and simplify the eligibility thresholds, to increase the intensity of financial aid, and to simplify procedures. (A.By./transl.jl)