Representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union met Wednesday within a conciliation procedure on the 2010 Budget of the European Union.

Sources are being sought for an additional 767 million euro, which will be budgeted to fund the second part of the Economic Recovery Plan of the European Commission. A key question concerning Bulgaria is the budgeting of 75 million euro as part of the 300 million euro Bulgaria is set to receive in compensation for closed-down Kozloduy N-plant units.

The money will be paid out over a four-year period. The first tranche of 75 million euro has already been approved by the European Commission. In order for Bulgaria to receive the money, it should be budgeted and approved by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

In a statement to BTA, a source from the Directorate-General Energy with the European Commission said that the Commission had fulfilled a commitment of the Commission President to Bulgaria.

Now the proposal has to be adopted by the Council and the Parliament. MEP Ivailo Kalfin is on the EP delegation in the ongoing conciliation procedure.

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council is also having a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday to adopt at second reading the EU 2010 Budget.

Source: BTA