 MEPs have backed the budget |
Members of the European Parliament have approved the European Union's 2007 budget, setting spending at 115.5bn euros ($153bn; �76bn). Although this is a 7.6% rise on 2006, it takes account of the fact that the EU will expand to 27 members next year as Romania and Bulgaria join.
The budget is still dominated by controversial farming payments, which eat up 56bn euros or 49% of spending.
Money available for EU administration was set at 6.9bn euros.
'Competitiveness'
Spending on aid for poorer regions, education, training, innovation, research and development as well as other measures to boost economic growth has seen the biggest increase.
It has seen set at 54.9bn euros, a 15.4% rise over 2006.
"In this budget a new way of thinking in Europe starts to be visible, there is a significant shift of resources towards competitiveness, innovation and economic progress," said EU Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite.
The amount the EU spends on the agriculture sector will be reviewed in 2008-09, together with the UK's rebate.
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