Cyprus parliament begins 2007 state budget debate

Members of parliament began Tuesday a three-day debate on the 2007 state budget.
The budget, as submitted to the House of Representatives, provides for CYP 4.07 bln (EUR 7 bln) total expenditure and 3.315 bln (EUR 5.7 bln) revenue.
Development expenditure is estimated at CYP 431.6 mln (EUR 742 mln) for 2007, an increase of 8.4% compared to 2006.
According to the House plenary agenda, the afternoon debate was expected to start with a reading by the Chairwoman of the House Finance Committee Antigoni Papadopoulou of a summary of a report of the committee for the state budget.
Following that, parliamentary party leaders (Environmentalists Movement, European Party, EDEK, DIKO, DISY and the Parliamentary spokesman of AKEL party) will take the floor.
The debate on the state budget will end on Thursday evening.