A voting marathon in Strasbourg today, for the adoption of the budget of the European Union, that sets outflows at 120.3 billion euros (0.96% of the European Gross Domestic Product). The budget entries confirm that more funds have been allocated to development and growth (even if the MEPs would have liked to have more funds allocated), to foreign policy and aids (Kosovo, Palestine), to control over outer borders and to the establishment of the European Institute of Technology. The party leaders sitting in the Assembly unanimously decided to invite several religious leaders in 2008, the year the EU will devote to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. It was announced by president Hans-Gert Poettering, who mentioned Pope Benedict XVI, the Dalai Lama, the Great Muftì of Damascus, Ahmad Badrebbine Hassoun (who will be the first to speak from the floor at January’s session). Other guests of the Assembly during the year will include the president of Israel Shimon Peres and the president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas.
