The EU will set aside €230 million in guarantees to support the issuance of "project bonds" for EU infrastructure projects under a deal concluded by MEPs and EU governments in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The deal will pilot test this innovative plan to attract private investment in transport, energy and information technology network projects.

Parliament approved the European Commission's 2010 budget spending on Thursday, under the EU's annual budget discharge procedure. It also endorsed the financial management of almost all the other institutions and agencies and the European Development Fund. However, it postponed the discharges for the Council and the Agencies for Food Safety, Medicines and the Environment.

The reporting of fraud and corruption in Member States' spending of EU funds and collection of customs duties and VAT - the traditional sources of the EU budget - must be improved, so as to protect the EU's financial interests and prevent misuse of its funds, says Parliament in a resolution voted on Thursday.

MEPs made known their views on Wednesday after Budgets Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski had presented the Draft EU Budget for 2013 at the Commission's midday press briefing. The Commission is seeking an increase in the payments budget of 6.8% (which would amount to €138 billion) and an increase of 2% in the commitments budget.

The European Parliament's budget for 2013 will be frozen in real terms. This was decided in Thursday's plenary vote on budget guidelines. MEPs also reiterated their demand for a single seat for Parliament and sought to prevent its money going to non-democratic parties.

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aid totalling €1.6 million to help over 1,100 redundant workers in Spain to find new jobs was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday.

The EU Medicines Agency, Environment Agency, Food Safety Authority and Council of Ministers all failed to win the Budgetary Control Committee's approval on Tuesday for the way in which they spend EU funds. All other EU Institutions and agencies were granted budget management "discharges" (approvals).

The European Commission's 2010 budget spending was approved by Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee on Monday under the "budget discharge procedure". MEPs criticized the lack of sanctions for mismanagement in Member States and also the use of financial engineering instruments and pre-financing of EU projects. Commissioner Semeta assured the committee that he would strive to improve management in these areas.

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aid totalling €1.6 million to help over 1,100 redundant workers in Spain to find new jobs was approved by the European Parliament's Budgets Committee on Wednesday.

The European Parliament's budget for 2013 should be frozen in real terms, confirmed the Budgets Committee on Wednesday, in a vote on budget guidelines negotiated by Parliament's political bodies. MEPs also reiterated their demand for a single seat for Parliament and sought to prevent Parliament's money going to non-democratic parties.