EMPLOYMENT : PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL AGREE ON MICROFINANCE FACILITY.

The EU microfinance facility will be funded partly by the Progress' employment and social solidarity programme(1), and partly by unallocated margins in the EU budget, according to the compromise agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Spanish EU Presidency, on the evening of 4 February. The two institutions also agreed to make 100 million available for the facility over four years (2010-2013). The compromise must now be formally approved by Parliament and the Council. The permanent representatives of the member states (Coreper) were to issue an opinion, on 5 February...