All five Maltese MEPs have voted in favour of an amendment to the 2010 draft EU budget which called for the banning of overseas development funds to countries or organisations supporting human rights abuses such as coercive abortion.

But the amendment narrowly failed to win the support of a majority of MEPs with 292 voting in favour, 310 against and seven abstentions. It was therefore not adopted as part of the overall report on the 2010 EU budget.

The amendment had already been rejected by the Committee on Budgets, but was put to the plenary vote.

In the overall draft budget 2010, MEPs have demanded a fresh €1.5 billion to finance the economic recovery plan and €300 million for a new dairy fund. The overall report on the budget proposed by the European Commission was approved with a number of changes by the MEPs with 522 votes in favour, 68 against and 39 abstentions.

The final budget 2010 is expected to be adopted in December following negotiations with the Council.

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